TOKYO, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Monday as investor sentiment improved after the Dow index hit record highs late last week in New York.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average finished 285.29 points, or 1.04 percent, higher from Wednesday at 27,833.29. Japanese markets were closed Thursday and Friday for national holidays.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended 21.21 points, or 1.11 percent, higher at 1,925.62.
Trading volume on the main section increased to 966.81 million shares from Wednesday's 937.25 million shares.
After the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the tech-heavy Nasdaq index rose to record highs on Friday, Tokyo stocks across a broad range of sectors were rising throughout the trading day.
Investor sentiment was also lifted by multiple medals won by the Japanese athletes in the Tokyo Olympics, brokers said.
However, after the Nikkei exceeded the 28,000 thresholds, the increasing trend went weak later in the day.
Investors are waiting for a two-day policy meeting by the U.S. Federal Board to begin on Tuesday, focusing on discussions about the reduction of monetary stimulus measures by the central bank of the United States as the economy rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic.
By the close of play, iron and steel, textile and apparel, and marine transportation stocks headed the upward trend. Gainers outnumbered decreasing ones 1,757 to 352 on the First Section, while 82 ended unchanged.
Chip-related stocks were fueled by gains in the Nasdaq. Advantest increased 1.1 percent, Screen Holdings rose 1.9 percent, and Taiyo Yuden jumped 3.3 percent.
Toray Industries ended up 5.2 percent due to reports that the operating profit of chemical fiber manufacturers in the first quarter through June nearly tripled over the same period last year. Enditem