Tokyo stocks end higher on U.S. gains

Tokyo shares ended the trading Thursday higher tracing gains in the overnight U.S. stocks gains.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 197.61 points, or 1. 08 percent, from Wednesday to 18,574.44.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 21.44 points, or 1.45 percent, at 1, 500.41.

Gainers were led by foods, insurance and construction issues.

The turnover was about 3,078.2 billion yen (about 25.63 billion U.S. dollars). Endi