TOKYO, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Friday on a strong lead from Wall Street overnight, with the European Central Bank (ECB) announcing it would scale back its quantitative easing program at a moderate rate pace also cheered by the market here.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 268.67 points, or 1.24 percent, from Thursday to end the day at 22,008.45, marking its highest close since July 1996 and the first time in more than 20 years the index finished above the 22,000 line.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 17.15 points, or 0.98 percent, to finish the day at 1,771.05.
Bank, textiles and apparels, and pharmaceutical-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play.
