Nikkei enjoys best annual performance in 41 years.

Japan's Nikkei 225 has closed the day and the year at a fresh six-year high of 16291, representing a rise of 0.7% for the session and 57% for the year. That makes 2013 the index's best annual performance since it jumped 92% in 1972. Japanese stocks have been benefiting from the central bank's massive money printing, which has helped weaken the yen and boost exporters. The USD-JPY was +0.1% at ¥105.30 at the time of writing after the yen earlier hit a five year low of ¥105.41.