Tokyo stocks close higher

TOKYO, Jan. 29 (Chinese media) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Thursday with the key Nikkei index jumping 1.79 percent.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Average advanced 144.95 points to 8,251.24.

The broader Topix index rose 14.14 points, or 1.76 percent, to 818.47.

On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered declining ones 1,096 to 495, with 123 others remaining unchanged.

Value leader Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group gained 450 yen, or more than 13 percent, to 3,810 yen while volume leader Mizuho Financial Group was up 12 yen, or more than 5 percent, to 245 yen.

Trading volume on the main section expanded to 2,142.56 million shares from 1,902.64 million Wednesday.

The TSE's Second Section index increased 1.62 points, or 0.09 percent, to 1,897.77 on a volume of 22.77 million shares.

On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term March Nikkei 225 index futures contract went up 90 points to 8,200.