March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Japan's stock benchmarks rose for sixth day. Energy-related stocks such as Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. advanced after crude oil and gasoline prices jumped.

``The surge in crude prices is the biggest catalyst for oil- related stocks,'' said Junichi Minami, who helps manage the equivalent of $2.5 billion in assets at Meiji Dresdner Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. ``Their earnings have been supported by higher prices and that will benefit their shares for some time.''

He favors Nippon Oil Corp., Japan's largest refiner, and TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K., the local refining unit of Exxon Mobil Corp.

Aiful Corp. led gains by consumer lenders after the Nihon Keizai newspaper said the government will provide guarantees on loans to small businesses by non-bank financial firms.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average advanced 18.14, or 0.2 percent, to 11,831.85 at 2:17 p.m. in Tokyo. The Topix index gained 3.50, or 0.3 percent, to 1189.21.

Both benchmarks are set to complete six days of gains. For the Nikkei, that would be the longest winning streak since Jan. 22, 2001, when it rose for seven days. For the Topix, it would be the longest since Aug. 30, when it advanced for 10 straight days.

Nikkei 225 futures for March delivery gained 0.3 percent 11,830 in Osaka and 0.4 percent to 11,840 Singapore.

Some 1.09 trillion yen ($9.5 billion) in shares included in the Topix traded, 6.9 percent less than the daily average for the past three months. Eight stocks rose for every seven that fell on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's first section.

Fuel Prices

Showa Shell, the Japanese refiner half owned by Royal Dutch/Shell Group, advanced 16 yen, or 1.5 percent, to 1,061.

Showa Shell and other refiners benefited from soaring prices of crude oil that rose to a record in New York in October. Prices of Dubai crude oil, a benchmark for Japanese refiners, averaged 25 percent more in 2004 than a year earlier, boosting the value of Showa Shell's inventories and helping it raise fuel prices.

The Topix Oil & Coal Index, which includes Showa Shell, has surged 19 percent this year, making it the best performer among the 33 industry groups that make up the Topix.

In Asian trading, crude oil traded near yesterday's $53.05 a barrel close in New York, the highest since Oct. 26, after an inventory report increased concern that shutdowns may leave refiners unable to keep pace with rising demand.

Gasoline for April delivery rose 8.11 cents to $1.4838 a gallon on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest close for the contract nearest expiration since trading began in 1984. Kerosene futures in Tokyo rose by the daily limit for a second day.

Earnings Growth

Nippon Oil climbed 4 yen, or 0.5 percent, to 778. The company earlier this week said it will raise crude oil processing 5 percent in March from a year earlier and will increase oil product prices in line with gains in global markets.

TonenGeneral added 2 yen, or 0.2 percent, to 1,049. Exxon, which had a record fourth-quarter profit because of surging oil prices, gained 0.9 percent in the U.S.

An industry measure tracking consumer finance companies advanced 1.1 percent, making it the best performer.

Aiful Corp., Japan's biggest consumer finance company, led the gains after the Nihon Keizai newspaper said the government will provide guarantees on loans to small businesses by non-bank financial firms.

Shares of Aiful jumped 410 yen, or 3.4 percent, to 12,600. Promise Co., the fourth-largest consumer finance company in the nation, advanced 150 yen, or 2 percent, to 7,600.

Elsewhere, Kikkoman Corp., the world's biggest maker of soy sauce, lost 14 yen, or 1.3 percent, to 1,090 after the Nihon Keizai newspaper said the company may miss its own earnings forecast for the current business year because of less-than- expected sales of the staple food seasoning in Japan.

Alpha Corp., an automobile parts maker, dropped 270 yen to 4,520 after UBS AG cut its rating on the stock to ``neutral 2'' from ``Buy 2'' saying the stock price has reached the brokerage's estimate price. The 5.6 percent plunge was the biggest among the stocks on the first section.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tomoko Yamazaki in Tokyo at tyamazaki@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 3, 2005 00:20 EST