TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) — Tokyo stocks closed higher on Wednesday, as investors took an optimistic attitude for the domestic earnings season over positive results reported by Japanese firms.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 220.85 points, or 0.61 percent, from Tuesday to close the day at 36,286.71.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 24.17 points, or 0.96 percent, higher at 2,551.10, its highest level since February 1990.

Analysts here pointed out that well-performing stocks, especially those of Japanese companies that exceeded market expectations in quarterly earnings, were in demand, propelling the Nikkei higher towards the end of the day.

Canon, which demonstrated a strengthened commitment to shareholder returns through share buybacks, saw a temporary 7-percent surge during the trading day.

On Wednesday, over 300 listed companies are announcing earnings, with the domestic reporting season culminating in mid-February.

In the afternoon session, banking stocks like Mitsubishi and UFJ extended their gains amid speculation about the Bank of Japan’s early normalization of monetary policy.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by bank, electric power and gas, and real estate shares.

Issues that recorded gains outpaced those that declined by 1,225 to 399, while 34 ended the day unchanged.