Tokyo stocks close higher on solid U.S. shares, Abe's victory

TOKYO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index ending at an eight-month high as robust U.S. stocks bolstered sentiment, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's victory in the ruling party's leadership election underpinned the market.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 195.00 points, or 0.82 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 23,869.93.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 16.42 points, or 0.92 percent, to finish at 1,804.02.

Oil and coal product, marine transportation, mining, and insurance-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play.