Tokyo stocks end higher with Nikkei closing at fresh record high

TOKYO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed sharply higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei closing at a fresh record high, boosted by solid overnight gains on Wall Street.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 812.06 points, or 2.03 percent, from Tuesday at 40,815.66, extending its winning streak to three trading days.

The broader Topix index, meanwh