TOKYO: Tokyo stocks closed higher on Wednesday, topping the 9,000 mark for the first time in three months, supported by overnight gains on Wall Street and a lower yen.
The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed up 1.10 percent or 98.07 points to 9,015.59. The Topix index of all first-section issues advanced 1.24 percent or 9.57 points to 782.34.
"The rise was led by futures buying and autos," Yutaka Yoshii of Mito Securities told Dow Jones Newswires, noting weaker yen benefits.
Takashi Ushio of Marusan Securities said: "Japan shares are becoming resilient in the face of eurozone debt issues."
The rise in Tokyo followed overnight gains on the US and European markets.
US stocks closed in positive territory Tuesday, clawing back losses after reports that Greece was nearing a bailout deal to avoid defaulting on its debt.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.26 percent to finish the session at 12,878.20.
Just before the opening bell in Tokyo, government data showed Japan's current account surplus fell to a 15-year low in 2011 as the nation logged a trade deficit due to lower exports and higher energy costs.
The worse-than-expected data helped the yen weaken.
In the afternoon in Tokyo, the dollar was changing hands at 77.07 yen, up from 76.78 yen in New York.
On the stock market, Toyota Motor added 4.98 percent to 3,135 yen after raising its net profit view for the full year to March, while Honda Motor was up 2.67 percent at 2,838.
Renesas Electronics was up 10.09 percent at 556 yen, Fujitsu was up 2.89 percent at 391 yen and Panasonic was up 3.30 percent at 657 yen following reports that the three companies are to join forces in a chip-making venture.
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