Tokyo stocks extend gains in morning amid hopes for U.S. tax reform

TOKYO, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks extended gains Monday morning as the market mood was lifted by Wall Street's robust performance at the end of last week amid hopes a U.S. tax reform bill will be passed.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 267.59 points, or 1.19 percent, from Friday to 22,820.81.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 19.80 points, or 1.10 percent, to 1,813.27.

Bank, insurance and transportation equipment-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.