Nikkei breaks through 15,000 for first time since 2008

Japan's benchmark index has broken through the 15,000 barrier for the first time since 2008 as investors continue to cheer policymakers' efforts to weaken the yen.

The Nikkei rose 2.3% overnight to close at 15,096, with gains led by exporters which have been boosted by a weaker domestic currency. The yen remains at a five year low against the dollar, trading at 102.2 on Wednesday, and large Japanese exporters have benefited as a result. Some of the biggest gains in the index were seen by the likes of Isuzu Motors and Sony Corporation, whose shares jumped 20.8% and 10.4%, respectively. The Nikkei has been rising steadily since the start of 2013 and is now up 45% year-to-date. Since the Bank of Japan embarked on an aggressive quantitative ea...