Tokyo stocks end higher for third straight day

Tokyo stocks rose for the third straight day Thursday, with the Nikkei Stock Average jumping 156.87 points, or 1.12%, to end the day at 14,194.71. The benchmark index opened higher in response to the overnight rebound in the Dow Jones industrial average, according to the (Nikkei.com). The Nikkei average remained firm amid improved sentiment after the index topped 14,000 on Wednesday. The dollar's rise to the upper-97 yen level helped the index widen its gains to more than 150 points and close at the day's high. With many investors staying on the sidelines, stocks were pushed up largely by buying of stock index futures.