Nikkei gains on Yellen comments, China data

Chinese exports rise 0.9% in April from a year earlier, beating expectations of a 1.7% decline

Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Thursday as comments by the US Federal Reserve chief and upbeat Chinese data improved sentiment, while Nintendo pared early losses after its chief said it will plan to launch a console for emerging markets.

The Nikkei ended up 0.9% at 14,163.78, recovering from a three-week closing low of 14,033.45 hit on Wednesday.

Hit by a wider-than-expected loss, Nintendo Co dropped as much as 5.6% to 10,070 yen, its lowest since June 2013, before recovering and ending down 0.7% at 10,595 yen.

Nintendo Chief Executive Satoru Iwata said on Thursday afternoon he plans to introduce a new kind of games console and software for emerging markets as early as next year, rather than launch existing hardware such as its Wii U or 3DS.

Chinese exports rose 0.9% in April from a year earlier, beating expectations of a 1.7% decline, while imports also were stronger than economists' estimates.

The broader Topix added 0.7% to 1,160.01, while the new JPX-Nikkei Index 400 advanced 0.8% to 10,556.68.

($1 = 101.7150 Japanese Yen)