Tokyo stocks ended higher Thursday as the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar lifted exporter issues after the market's recent run of closing lows, while solid business investment data underpinned the broader market.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 209.46 points, or 1.07 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 19,860.03.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 17.77 points, or 1.13 percent, to finish at 1,586.14.

The majority of industry categories advanced on the main section on Thursday, with electric power and gas, food and machinery-related stocks comprising those that gained the most by the close of play.

Advancing issues ended up outpacing declining ones by 1,620 to 309, on the First Section and trading volume on the main section on Thursday came to 1,738.30 million shares, down from Wednesday's volume of 2,018.98 million shares.

The turnover on the penultimate day of the week totaled 2,466.5 billion yen (22.22 billion U.S. dollars).