Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks extended its gains Thursday with key indices rising more than 3 per cent on optimistic US economic data.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average index surged 251.58 points, or 3.01 per cent, to 8,603.49.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also rose 25.7 points, or 3.24 per cent, to 819.52.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 98.50-55 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 98.60-63 yen.

The euro traded at 1.3242-47 dollars, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 1.3197-1.3200 dollars, and at 130.47-52 yen, up from 130.15-19 yen. (dpa)