TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher on Friday, led by technology shares on optimism in the U.S. economy, while caution prevailed before remarks from the Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor that may offer clues on the timing of future interest rate hikes.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 568.58 points, or 1.53 percent, from Thursday at 37,723.91.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 25.48 points, or 0.97 percent, higher at 2,642.35.

On the stock market, the benchmark Nikkei ended at a three-week high with technology shares tracking overnight Wall Street gains, as stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data raised hopes the U.S. economy can avoid a recession, analysts said.

Market watchers here noted that gains were trimmed in the afternoon as some investors moved to lock in gains before BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda's press conference due to his previous remarks taken by the market as willing to further hike interest rates. Enditem

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