TOKYO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index surging more than 5 percent.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 2,878.86 points, or 5.39 percent, from Tuesday at 56,308.42. The broader Topix index finished 121.28 points, or 3.32 percent, higher at 3,775.30.
On the top-tier Prime Market, the main gainers were nonferrous metal, glass and ceramics products, and electric appliance issues.
The rally was supported by a sharp drop in crude oil prices. The benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures briefly plunged to the 91 U.S. dollars per barrel range in New York overnight, boosting investor sentiment. ■
