Tokyo stocks close higher as investors buyback shares before year end

Tokyo stocks closed higher Tuesday as investors repositioned themselves before the last day of trading by buying back shares previously deemed oversold in lieu of a lack of firmer cues.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 108.88 points, or 0.58 percent, from Monday to end the day at 18,982.33, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 14.17 points, or 0.93 percent, higher to end at 1,543.39.

Notable advancers comprised agriculture and fisheries, pharmaceuticals and construction-linked issues.

The day's turnover was 1,768.9 billion yen (14.69 billion U.S. dollars). Endit