Mumbai, June 19 -- Japanese stocks closed mixed on Friday, with the Nikkei 225 edging up 0.28% to 71,250, while the broader Topix Index fell 0.57% to 4,045. Investors reacted to data showing Japan's core inflation held steady at 1.4% in May, in line with expectations, suggesting that underlying price pressures remain under control despite higher energy costs.

Despite the mixed session, both indexes posted strong weekly gains, with the Nikkei rising about 8% and the Topix advancing around 4%. Market sentiment improved after the US-Iran peace agreement helped push oil prices lower, easing concerns about inflation. Japanese equities also benefited from a global rally in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related stocks, which helped ...