Tokyo shares close higher as quake worries abate

Tokyo shares closed higher Tuesday, with the Nikkei index ending at a roughly 10-and-a-half-month high, as worries over a strong earthquake jolting northeastern Japan early Tuesday morning abated with tsunami advisories lifted and no major damages reported.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 56.92 points, or 0.31 percent, from Monday at 18,162.94.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 4.57 points, or 0.32 percent, higher at 1,447.50.

Gainers were led by mining, iron and steel, and information and communication issues.

The day's turnover was about 2,172.7 billion yen (around 19.61 billion U.S. dollars). Endit