Tokyo stocks ended an erratic Friday session higher amid persistent economic optimism, lifting the benchmark Nikkei index to end above 17,500 for the first time in about five years and nine months.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 74.04 points, or 0.42 percent, to 17,563.37, marking its highest closing since July 10, 2000.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 8.05 points, or 0.45 percent, to 1,783. 72, for its best mark since Nov. 15, 1991.

Advancing issues led declining ones 934 to 599, with 160 shares ending unchanged.

Trading volume on the TSE's main section came to 1,893.79 million shares against Thursday's 1,769.52 million shares.

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries was the day's volume leader, up 23 yen to 414 yen.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group was the most heavily traded issue in terms of value. It climbed 10,000 yen to 1,930,000 yen.

The TSE's Second Section index rose 6.27 points, or 0.12 percent, to 5,144.31 on a volume of 68.05 million shares. In Osaka, the near-term June Nikkei 225 index futures contract was up 50 points to 17,560.

Source: Xinhua