Tokyo stocks closed higher Thursday, bringing an end to a three-day losing streak for the benchmark Nikkei stock index, following reports the debt ceiling in the U.S. will be raised to avert a government shutdown.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 38.55 points, or 0.20 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 19,396.52.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 6.24 points, or 0.39 percent, to finish the day at 1,598.24.

Pulp and paper, machinery and metal product-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play, and rising issues beat falling ones by 1,432 to 485 on the First Section.

Local traders pointed to a positive market mood here following gains on Wall Street after reports a deal was struck to raise the U.S. debt limit until Dec. 15.

The move eased market fears about a possible government shutdown and debt default, brokers here noted.

Market players here said however that there remained an underlying sense of consternation about the possibility of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsular in the upcoming days, while some investors hit the sidelines ahead of the European Central Bank's (ECB) policy meeting later in the day.

On the main section on Thursday, 1,526.48 million shares changed hands, dropping from Wednesday's volume of 1,665.53 million shares.

The turnover on the penultimate trading day of the week came to 2,044.8 billion yen (18.75 billion yen).