Tokyo stocks close higher on Brexit delay vote

TOKYO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Friday as Britain's House of Commons voting overnight to seek a delay to the country's scheduled departure from the European Union was welcomed by investors.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 163.83 points, or 0.77 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 21,450.85.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 14.34 points, or 0.90 percent, to finish at 1,602.63.

Mining, bank and precision instrument-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play.