TOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average touched a near three-week high on Monday with broader investor risk sentiment improving after centrist Emmanuel Macron took a step towards the French presidency after the weekend's voting.
The Nikkei ended Monday 1.4 percent higher at 18,875.88 after rising earlier to 18,910.33, its highest since April 5.
Shares of exporters advanced as the safe-haven yen fell sharply against the dollar on the results of the French presidential election's first round. Firms related to the defence industry also rose on lingering North Korea tensions.
The broader Topix advanced 1 percent to 1,503.19 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 added 0.95 percent to 13,447.69. (Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro; Editing by Sam Holmes)