Mumbai, March 26 -- Japanese markets advanced after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to take "strong measures" to counter soaring prices.

"The Prime Minister didn't intend to say we're rolling out new budget spending," government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters. "Rather we're going to fully utilize the policies outlined in this year's additional budget and next year's initial budget."

The Nikkei average climbed 0.65 percent to 38,027.29 while the broader Topix index closed up 0.55 percent at 2,812.89.

Japan's leading index increased more than initially estimated in January to the highest level in three months, the latest data from the Cabinet Office showed on Wednesday.

The leading index, which measures future economic...