Stocks rose amid optimism on Thursday in Tokyo, with the key Nikkei stock index ending above the 17,000-line for the first time in more than five years.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 106.93 points, or 0.63 percent, to 17,045.34, ending above the 17,000 threshold for the first time since Aug. 29, 2000.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 15.14 points, or 0.88 percent, to 1, 726.68, its highest finish since April 3, 2000.

High-tech, real estate, retail, bank, insurance, construction and air transport issues gained ground.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones 901 to 670, with 124 shares ending the day unchanged.

Mizuho Financial Group was the most heavily traded issue by value. It rose 22,000 yen to 955,000 yen.

Mitsubishi Motors was the day's volume leader, up 11 yen to 251 yen.

Trading volume on the TSE's main section rose to 2,224.74 million shares from Wednesday's 1,965.84 million shares.

The TSE's Second Section index gained 23.92 points, or 0.48 percent, to 5,047.90 on a volume of 89.04 million shares. In Osaka, the near-term June Nikkei 225 index futures contract rose 150 points to 17,060.

Source: Xinhua