Fast Retailing shares rallied one day after the Japanese retailer reported that May comps at its Uniqlo chain jumped 5.9 percent.
Fast Retailing shares surged 6.9 percent to end at 30,120 yen, while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 inched up 0.48 percent to finish at 16,642.
Other Asian indices also edged higher as investors anticipated jobs data in the United States due later Friday. Shanghai’s SSE rose 0.46 percent to end at 2,939 while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.42 percent to close at 20,947.
Trinity gained 1.5 percent to end at 0.670 Hong Kong dollars despite news that chief executive officer Richard Cohen is departing after two years at the helm of the company.
It was a mixed day for retail stocks.
Global Brands gained 1.3 percent to end at 0.790 Hong Kong dollars. Takashimaya was basically flat at 755 yen.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings fell 0.97 percent to finish at 1,024 yen. Chow Tai Fook lost 0.71 percent to end at 5.57 Hong Kong dollars.