Special Report: Global Financial Crisis

Tokyo stocks closed sharply higher Wednesday, extending their gains into a three-day winning streak. The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 264.37 points, or 3.15 percent, from Tuesday to 8,660.24. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TOKYO, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed sharply higher Wednesday, extending their gains into a three-day winning streak.

    The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 264.37 points, or 3.15 percent, from Tuesday to 8,660.24.

    The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 16.61 points, or 2.03 percent, to 834.55.

    Gainers were led by sea transport, nonferrous metal and auto shares. Major decliners included forestry and fishery, insurance, and gas and electric issues.

    The market was lifted by U.S. media reports in the afternoon that the White House and the Congress have agreed to provide a 15-billion-dollar bailout plan for the Big Three automakers.

    Japanese automakers were upbeat about the news on the Big Three. Value leader Toyota Motor rose 180 yen, or 6.55 percent, to 2,930 yen, and Honda Motor advanced 190 yen, or over 10 percent, to 2,035 yen

    On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered declining ones 1,082 to 523, with 108 others remaining unchanged.

    Trading volume on the main section came to 2,146.15 million shares, up from Tuesday's 1,995.90 million. Volume leader Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group gained 10 yen, or over 2 percent, to 468 yen.

    The TSE's Second Section index rose 6.03 points, or 0.32 percent, to 1,919.86 on a volume of 29.14 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term December Nikkei 225 index futures contract was up 230 points to 8,630.