Tokyo stocks close higher on solid economic data, weaker yen

TOKYO, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher on Friday as invested sentiment was buoyed by solid U.S. and Japanese economic data, with a weaker yen adding support and lifting exporters higher.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 217.53 points, or 1.02 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 21,602.69.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 8.06 points, or 0.50 percent, to finish at 1,615.72.

Farm and fishery, pharmaceutical and precision instrument-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play.