Tokyo shares staged a broad rally on Friday, with the key Nikkei stock index marking a a fresh five- month closing high.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 167.73 points, or 1. 02 percent, to end at 16,536.54, its highest finish since May 12.

The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 14.36 points, or 0.89 percent, to 1,628.00.

Wholesalers, construction, financial services, real estate and securities stocks advanced, together with the mining and oil sectors. In contrast, railway operators, airlines and banks lost ground.

A total of 1,405 issues advanced against 225 declining on the First Section, with 65 ending the day unchanged.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group became the day's most heavily traded issue by value, down 20,000 yen to 1,510,000 yen.

Toshiba was the day's volume leader, up 23 yen to 727 yen.

Trading volume on the main section extended to 1,842.26 million shares from Thursday's 1,671.50 million shares.

The TSE's Second Section index rose 40.87 points, or 1.02 percent, to 4,065.23 on a volume of 46.20 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term December Nikkei 225 index futures contract was up 190 points to 16,570.

Source: Xinhua