TOKYO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended 0.26 percent higher Thursday as investors awaited an upcoming policy meeting of the European Central Bank and a report on the U.S. labor market.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 48.24 points, from Wednesday at 18,751.84. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 6.71 points, or 0.44 percent, to 1,523.72.

Major gainers included textile and apparel, pharmaceutical and mining issues.

The turnover was 2,155.52 billion yen (about 17.98 billion U.S. dollars).