Tokyo stocks advance in morning on U.S. shares' advance, softer yen

TOKYO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks were higher Thursday morning, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index briefly retaking the 24,000 line for the first time since November 1991, on Wall Street's overnight advance and the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 110.27 points, or 0.46 percent, from Wednesday to 23,978.61.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 0.92 points, or 0.05 percent, at 1,891.74.

Rubber product, metal product and electric appliance-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.