Japanese shares end higher as automakers gain on weaker yen

TOKYO, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Japanese shares closed higher on Friday as a weaker yen boosted exporters, including automakers, while financials climbed on the back of a continued hunt for value stocks. The Nikkei rose 0.27% to close at 33,377.42 but wrapped up the holiday-shortened week with a 0.26% loss. The broader Topix rose 0.62% to 2,393.54 and jumped 1.15% for the week. “The market was led by exporters whose shares rose amid the yen’s weakness,” said Shuutarou Yasuda, a market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute. “And, the Topix kept its momentum from the previous session as investors sought to buy shares with higher dividend payouts.” The Japanese yen weakened against the dollar as investors tempered expectations of an…