Tokyo stocks advanced moderately Thursday morning as some investors were emboldened by solid corporate earnings for the first half by domestic firms, although gains were capped by profit-taking.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 35.36 points, or 0.16 percent, from Wednesday to 21,742.98.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 1.36 points, or 0.08 percent, to 1,752.79.

Securities, pulp and paper, and machinery-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.