TOKYO, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Friday as the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar saw exporter issues rise which lifted the broader market.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 98.84 points, or 0.51 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 19,452.61.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 4.79 points, or 0.30 percent, higher to finish at 1,596.99.
Iron and steel, transportation equipment and marine transportation-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play, and rising issues beat falling ones by 1,172 to 711 on the First Section.
Local traders said that the yen's easing against the U.S. dollar prompted buying from the get go, particularly of issues widely exposed to overseas markets.
But the market's upside was capped by ongoing geopolitical concerns related to heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, local brokers said.
Some market players hit the sidelines ahead of speeches by U.S. Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi to be made at a meeting of central bankers in the United States, brokers said.
They added that while no surprises regarding future tax hikes were likely, some investors were keen to hear Yellen's view of inflation in the United States.
On the main section on Friday, 1,343.61 million shares changed hands, dropping from Thursday's volume of 1,442.22 million shares.
The turnover on the final trading day of the week came to 1,713.8 billion yen (15.62 billion U.S. dollars).
