Tokyo Stocks End Higher On Tech Shares, Weaker Yen

TOKYO, Feb 19 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended higher on Thursday, led by some heavyweight technology shares, while a weaker yen helped lift some exporters, reported Xinhua.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 323.99 points, or 0.57 per cent, from Wednesday at 57,467.83.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 44.84 points, or 1.18 per cent, higher at 3,852.09.

The United States (US) dollar strengthened to the lower 155 yen level in Tokyo. The yen's weakness lifted some export-oriented issues, including Toyota Motor.

On the stock market, Tokyo Electron and Shin-Etsu Chemical were notable gainers as their US counterparts moved higher overnight on Wall Street due to hopes for an expansion of the artificial intelligence market, analysts said.  

--BERNAMA-XINHUA