Tokyo stocks advance in morning on ECB easing, hopes for another Fed rate cut

TOKYO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks extended gains Friday morning, as the European Central Bank's (ECB) easing measures were cheered by market players amid increasing expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will again cut its interest rate henceforth.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 187.92 points, or 0.86 percent, from Thursday to 21,947.53.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 7.13 points, or 0.45 percent, at 1,602.23.

Real estate, pharmaceutical, and farm and fishery-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.