Nikkei Stock Index Hits 35-Year High as Foreign Cash Propels Japanese Shares

• Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock index hit a 35-year high last week, surpassing its previous 1989 peak • The Nikkei rallied 0.7% on Monday, extending strong gains over the past year that have made Japanese stocks top performers • The index is up 28.2% in 2023, handily beating the S&P 500's own robust gains • Foreign investors have poured cash into Japanese shares thanks to cheap yen and improved corporate governance • However, Japan's overall economy continues to struggle with weak growth and structural issues like a shrinking population