TOKYO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks extended gains on Tuesday, tracking the U.S. stock rally overnight over optimism of a potential soft landing for the U.S. economy.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, went up 216.68 points, or 0.57 percent, from the previous trading day to close at 37,940.59.
During the trading, the index briefly exceeded the psychologically significant 38,000 mark, the first time in three weeks, but profit-taking has kicked in to limit further gains.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 14.38 points higher at 2,656.73.
Despite the strong performance, there was caution in the market as investors digested the Bank of Japan's cautious stance on interest rate hikes.
The Bank of Japan decided to keep its key interest rate unchanged at around 0.25 percent last Friday, as its chief said the central bank still has time to assess when it needs to raise borrowing costs further.
On the top-tier Prime Market, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by 877 to 713, with 54 issues remaining unchanged. ■
