TOKYO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher on Thursday over Wall Street gains amid hopes of interest rate cut and Japan's better-than-expected economic data.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 284.21 points, or 0.78 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 36,726.64.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 18.85 points, or 0.73 percent, higher at 2,600.75.

Market watchers here noted that the Tokyo market saw a buying momentum that mirrored the generally strong performance of the overnight U.S. stock market. Key contributors to the Nikkei index's rise included heavyweights like Fast Retailing and Tokyo Electron.

Latest data showed U.S. consumer price index rose 2.9 percent in July from a year earlier, the slowest pace since March 2021, raising hopes for the U.S. central bank to begin cutting interest rates, analysts added.

Japan's preliminary gross domestic product figures for the second quarter, which exceeded market expectations, also provided a further boost to the market and supported the overall sentiment.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by banks, securities houses, and oil and coal product issues.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones by 1,018 to 577, with 51 issues remaining unchanged. ■