Tokyo stocks advance in morning on solid U.S. consumer data

TOKYO, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Wednesday morning as robust U.S. consumer confidence data for August sent U.S. shares higher overnight and boosted investor sentiment here.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 106.18 points, or 0.55 percent, from Tuesday to 19,468.73.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 6.56 points, or 0.41 percent, to 1,604.32.

Pharmaceutical, securities, and iron and steel-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.