Nikkei closes up 107.77

Japanese stocks closed higher after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed he would go ahead with much-needed reforms to revive the nation's economy.

The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average finished up 107.77 points, or 0.74%, at 14,529.41. On Wednesday, the average closed down 3.82 points, or 0.02%.