Tokyo stocks closed higher Wednesday as investor sentiment was buoyed by US Federal Reserve officials suggesting a rate hike could happen in the near future, with hopes also high that the central bank here will expand its easing policy next month.

    The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 162.04 points, or 0.97%, from Tuesday to end the day at near three-week high at 16,887.40. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 16.73 points, or 1.27%, to close at 1,329.54. 

    Notable issues that advanced by the close of play comprised bank, electric power and gas, and securities-linked stocks. The day's turnover was 2,204.5 billion yen (21.35 billion US dollars)