Tokyo stocks close higher Wednesday

Tokyo stocks closed higher Wednesday, led by gains in major banks, brokerages and property firms after US and European stocks rose overnight amid hopes for monetary easing steps. The Nikkei Stock Average finished at 8,752.31, up 96.44 points, or 1.11%, its highest level since May 17, when the gauge reached 8,876. Some investors made purchases on easing hopes, as the US Federal Open Market Committee is set to release on Thursday, Japan time, the outcome of its latest two-day meeting, which ends Wednesday, according to (Nikkei) website. The benchmark Nikkei average advanced further in the afternoon, as investors, mainly overseas short-term traders, intermittently purchased stock index futures.