This file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks rose Thursday as investors shifted focus to domestic earnings and U.S. jobs data for October amid a sense of relief after the Federal Reserve decided to scale back a massive bond-buying program as widely expected.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 273.47 points, or 0.93 percent, from Tuesday at 29,794.37. Japanese financial markets were closed Wednesday for a national holiday. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 23.89 points, or 1.18 percent, higher at 2,055.56.

       Gainers were led by textile and apparel, machinery and electric appliance issues.

       The U.S. dollar was steady in the lower 114 yen range throughout the day.

       The U.S. unit was bought on speculation that the interest rate gap between the United States and Japan will widen as the Fed decided Wednesday to unwind its massive bond-buying program later this month amid the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

       But some traders were reluctant to chase the dollar's upside further as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell indicated no immediate rate hikes at a press conference after a two-day policy meeting, signaling the central bank wants to see more labor market recovery, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 114.21-22 yen compared with 113.97-114.07 yen in New York at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1571-1573 and 132.16-20 yen against $1.1607-1617 and 132.36-46 yen in New York late Wednesday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.005 percentage point from Tuesday's close to 0.075 percent, with investors buying the debt on the view that U.S. rate hikes are not imminent.

       The Fed's stance provided relief to the equities markets as it eased concerns that an early U.S. rate hike could trigger an outflow of funds from emerging markets and hamper global economic growth, brokers said.

       As uncertainty about the Fed's monetary policy has faded, market players have shifted their focus to U.S. economic data and more earnings results from major Japanese companies.

       "As the timing of a rate hike will depend on the pace of employment recovery, U.S. jobs data will draw increased attention from now on," said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co. Nonfarm payroll data for October will be released Friday.

       Investors are also waiting for the release of domestic earnings reports, hoping they show a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Ichikawa added.

       On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,571 to 551, while 61 ended unchanged.

       Toyota Motor rose 15.0 yen, or 0.7 percent, to 2,063.0 yen, after the automaker raised its net profit outlook for the business year to next March despite a shortage of parts that has triggered output cuts.

       Nippon Steel gained 34.5 yen, or 1.7 percent, to 2,049.5 yen and Fujifilm Holdings soared 434 yen, or 4.8 percent, to 9,503 yen, after the companies lifted their annual profit forecasts, respectively.

       Notably, high-tech issues gained on their U.S. peers' strength Wednesday, with semiconductor maker Screen Holdings jumping 480 yen, or 4.4 percent, to 11,440 yen, and Apple Inc. supplier Alps Alpine climbing 48 yen, or 4.3 percent, to 1,155 yen.

       Trading volume on the main section rose to 1,482.77 million shares from Tuesday's 1,183.56 million shares.

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