Tokyo shares end remarkably higher on solid GDP data

Tokyo shares ended remarkably higher on Wednesday with its benchmark Nikkei stocks index hitting a fresh 15-year high as sentiment here was boosted by stronger-than- expected Japanese economic growth in the quarter of 2015.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average jumped 170.18 points, or 0. 85 percent, higher from Tuesday to 20,196.56, the highest close since April 2000.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 10.07 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1, 643.40.

Gainers were led by real estate, rubber products and utilities issues.

The turnover was about 2,995.5 billion yen (about 24.78 billion U.S. dollars).