Tokyo stocks advance in morning on hopes for productive U.S.-China trade talks

TOKYO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Friday morning, as the market mood was buoyed by hopes that U.S.-China trade talks to be held next week would bear fruit, while a weaker yen lifted exporters.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 117.61 points, or 0.53 percent, from Thursday to 22,309.65.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 11.40 points, or 0.68 percent, to 1,698.55.

Marine transportation, mining, and bank-oriented issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.