TOKYO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Friday on hopes for the central bank's additional purchasing of exchange-traded funds to prop up the market, although gains were capped by concerns over business activities in Tokyo being suspended or restricted to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 152.73 points, or 0.79 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 19,498.50.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 13.06 points, or 0.92 percent, to finish at 1,430.04.
Trading got off to a mixed start as investor sentiment was both lifted by U.S. shares rising overnight amid the U.S. Federal Reserve's plans to inject 2.3 trillion U.S. dollars into the economy, yet dampened by concerns restriction and business closures to be announced for Tokyo later in the day could have a significant impact on the economy here.
After a slight retreat prior to the morning break, market strategists said stocks rebounded in the afternoon on hopes for the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to support the market by purchasing exchange-traded funds as part of its latest easing measures.
With many foreign investors not participating due to the Good Friday holiday and ahead of long Easter weekends in some overseas countries, the market's upside was capped, analysts said.
They added that caution prevailed over the Tokyo metropolitan government's announcement in the afternoon about businesses that would be subject to increased restrictions or closures, as part of the capital's measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told a press conference on the matter that Japanese "izakaya" pubs will be requested to close their doors at 8 p.m. and that restaurants asked stop serving alcohol by 7 p.m., with the restrictions effective midnight Friday.
"Investors are concerned about the possibility of a prolonged business suspension, and uncertainty is growing about its negative effects on corporate earnings," Maki Sawada, vice president of the investment research and investor services department at Nomura Securities Co., was quoted as saying.
Heavily weighted Nikkei component Fast Retailing, supported the Nikkei's rise, adding 2.6 percent, as the market had factored in the casual chain store operator's drop in net profits and earnings outlook downgrade.
Financial issues also found favor as their U.S. counterparts rallied overnight, with Mizuho Financial Group adding 3.6 percent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group gaining 4.4 percent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group closing 4.0 percent higher.
By the close of play, bank, iron and steel, and electric power and gas-related issues comprised those that gained the most, and issues that rose outpaced those that fell by 1,511 to 608 on the First Section, while 50 ended the day unchanged.
On the main section on Friday, 1.370 billion shares changed hands, rising from Thursday's volume of 1.368 billion shares.
The turnover on the final trading day of the week came to 2.194 trillion yen (20.23 billion U.S. dollars).
