Tokyo stocks close higher as robust Chinese data bolsters sentiment

Tokyo stocks closed higher Friday as investor sentiment was bolstered by robust economic data from China, offsetting jitters about U.S. Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen's speech later in the day and retail data also due from the U.S. that had led to choppy trade.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 82.13 points, or 0.49 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 16,856.37.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 4.88 points, or 0.36 percent, to finish at 1,347.19.

Notable gainers by the close of play comprised mining, oil and coal product, and information and communication-linked stocks.

The turnover on the last trading day of the week was 1,966.0 billion yen (18.89 billion U.S. dollars). Endit