Nikkei hits 23-month high, buoyed by Abe employment comments

TOKYO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose
1.5 percent to a 23-month high on Friday, with exporters
extending gains on a weaker yen after the Nikkei reported Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe as saying the central bank should make
pursuing maximum employment a consideration.
The Nikkei added 157.50 points to 10,810.14, the
highest level since February 2011. The broader Topix
index gained 1.3 percent to 900.61.