Tokyo stocks close higher on buybacks, expectations for LDP leadership race

TOKYO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Wednesday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index ending at an eight-month high as investors bought back issues oversold, while expectations Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will win the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election added support.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 251.98 points, or 1.08 percent, from Tuesday to close the day at 23,672.52.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 25.78 points, or 1.46 percent, to finish at 1,785.66.

Oil and coal product, insurance and machinery-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play.