Japanese shares end 0.18% higher TOKYO stocks rose after the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at another record high, while concerns over the Cyprus bailout receded and the US dollar picked up against the yen. The benchmark Nikkei index was up 0.18 per cent, or 22.17 points, at 12,493.79, while the Topix index of all first-section shares added 0.20 per cent, or 2.05 points, to 1046.47. Wall Street provided a strong lead, with the Dow ending up 0.77 per cent at another record high, while the S&P 500 added 0.78 per cent to close just two points shy of its own best finish. US dealers were lifted by data showing durable goods orders for February rose solidly, while home prices across 20 top cities jumped 8.1 per cent in the 12 months to January, the highest year-on-year increase since mid-2006. Those were tempered, though, as the Conference Board index of consumer confidence fell on concerns over deep budget cuts that kicked in on March 1. Global markets have become more relaxed since Cyprus agreed a last-minute deal with its international lenders that will see it receive a $US13 billion ($A12.45 billion) rescue package to help pay its bills. And while the decision to tax bank savings above 100,000 euros raised fears of a similar move in future rescues officials said that Cyprus was a special case. However central bank governor Panicos Demetriades warned "superhuman" efforts are needed to reopen the island nation's banks by Thursday. In forex trade, the euro slipped to $US1.2825 from $US1.2856 in New York late on Tuesday but was up at 121.71 yen, compared with 121.56 yen. The US dollar was at 94.74 yen, from 94.55 yen. The weaker yen helped lift sentiment in Tokyo, with the market's focus now on expected fresh easing measures from the Bank of Japan, dealers said. The central bank's new governor has repeatedly pledged "aggressive" monetary easing steps to end years of deflation and meet a two per cent inflation target, adopted in January. The BoJ's first policy meeting under new management is scheduled for next week. Sharp fell 4.14 per cent to 278 yen after it said a deadline passed on Tuesday for a capital injection from Taiwanese manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision, which however, denied Sharp's claim and said the deal could still be consummated. Rival Panasonic jumped 5.20 per cent to 708 yen, Sony added 0.54 per cent to 1675 yen, Toyota slipped 0.20 per cent to 4900 yen while Honda rose 0.55 per cent to 3660 yen.