Tokyo shares close sharply higher on dollar's firmness

Tokyo shares ended sharply higher Thursday with its benchmark Nikkei index ending above the 16,000 threshold for the first time in eight months, as a firm U.S. dollar softened the yen and therefore boosted export-linked shares here.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rocketed 178.90 points, or 1. 13 percent, from Wednesday at 16,067.57, its best finish since Jan. 8.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 12.95 points, or 0.99 percent, at 1, 317.91.
Gainers were led by machinery, automaker and insurance issues.
The turnover was about 2,382.2 billion yen (about 21.93 billion U.S. dollars).