TOKYO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher on Monday tracking the bullish performance of major indices in the U.S. stock market before the weekend.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, went up by 354.96 points, or 0.91 percent, from Friday to close the day at 39,347.04.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 25.70 points, or 0.95 percent, higher at 2,728.32.
Market watchers here noted that although buying prevailed in the Tokyo market on Monday, profit-taking selling weighed on the Nikkei index in the afternoon amid a widespread wait-and-see mood ahead of the earnings announcements of retail companies starting this week and the U.S. inflation data.
On the Prime Market, gainers were led by transportation equipment, securities, and oil and coal product issues.
Issues that advanced outpaced those that declined by 1,226 to 383, while 43 ended the day unchanged. ■