TOKYO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed marginally higher Friday in choppy trade despite early selling on the yen's firmness and concerns over a data falsification scandal involving Mitsubishi Materials Corp.
Speculation over possible stock purchases by the Bank of Japan lifted market sentiment in later trade, brokers here said.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 27.70 points, or 0.12 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 22,550.85.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 3.48 points, or 0.20 percent, to finish at 1,780.56.
Retail, chemical, and information and communication-linked shares comprised those that advanced the most by the close of play.
Markets were closed on Thursday for a national holiday.
