Tokyo stocks extend rally to fourth day

Stocks extended their winning streak to a fourth session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Thursday, backed by the yen's further drop against the dollar and a brighter U.S. economic outlook. The Nikkei average rose 79.86 points, or 0.47 percent, to finish at 16,899.10. On Wednesday, it gained 83.59 points. The Topix index closed up 6.12 points, or 0.45 percent, at 1,353.93, after climbing 7.60 points the previous day. The Tokyo market opened sharply higher thanks to the weaker yen and gains on Wall Street.