Nikkei outperforms rest of Asia on US econ hopes

TOKYO, December 26 (Reuters): Japanese stocks outperformed the rest of Asia in thin trade; while the euro firmed on December 26 as signs of U.S. economic recovery underpinned sentiment, although trading was subdued with many markets closed for extended Christmas holidays. Tokyo's Nikkei stock average rose 1.2 per cent, trading above its 25-day moving average of 8,459. But MSCI's broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan slipped from a two-week high touched earlier in the day to trade nearly flat. U.S., European and some Asian markets including Hong Kong and Singapore are closed on December 26.