TOKYO, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended higher Thursday, as a weaker yen boosted exporter issues after the Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 17.96 points, or 0.04 percent, from Wednesday to 51,325.61.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 22.55 points, or 0.69 percent, higher at 3,300.79.
The yen briefly weakened past the 153 level against the U.S. dollar in Tokyo, shortly after Japan's central bank decided to keep benchmark interest rates at around 0.5 percent following its first policy meeting after Sanae Takaichi took power as the country's prime minister last week.
Although the decision was widely expected, the Japanese currency was sold as some market participants had speculated there could be a surprise rate hike, analysts said. ■
