TOKYO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks rose Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index ending at a fresh record high, buoyed by optimism about a settlement in the Middle East conflict.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 1,654.93 points, or 2.68 percent, from Thursday at 63,339.07.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 38.65 points, or 1.00 percent, higher at 3,892.46.
Stocks tracked overnight gains on Wall Street after the U.S. Dow Jones index closed at a record high on reports that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had seen "some good signs" in peace talks with Iran, analysts said.
Meanwhile, stability in the Japanese government bond market and West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures also eased inflation concerns, prompting buying of stocks. Artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares led gains. ■