TOKYO (Dow Jones)--Tokyo stocks rose on Tuesday, as China's support for measures being taken by European officials to stabilize their financial markets soothed investor jitters and triggered a broad wave of buying, pushing eurozone-sensitive shares such as Sony and Nikon up sharply. The Nikkei Stock Average rose 154.12 points, or 1.5%, to 10,370.53 following Monday's 87.42-point fall, posting the sharpest point and percentage gains for the index since Dec. 2. The Topix index of all the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section issues also added 7.66 points, or 0.9%, to 906.21, with 31 of 33 subindexes closing in positive territory. Trading volume remained relatively light, however, due to the upcoming winter holidays, totaling just over 1.6 billion shares. Stocks opened higher on signs of easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and expectations for solid results from a string of U.S. spending and housing data due later this week. Comments made during the lunchtime break by China Vice Premier Wang Qishan supplied an additional positive jolt in the afternoon session. He said that China supports efforts by European officials to stabilize global markets following the European debt crisis. "Eased concerns about the European debt problems led to the buying-back of shares," said Hisatsune Kobayashi, a senior market analyst at Nikko Cordial Securities, noting that the remarks led to speculation that China may further step up its buying of bonds in euro zone economies. The BOJ, meanwhile, kept its policy interest-rate target in a 0.0%-0.1% range and took no further unconventional easing measures, as many expected. "The recovery of the U.S. economy will be the key theme next year," said Meiwa Securities market analyst Masayoshi Yano, adding that the Nikkei may rise to 10,500 towards the year-end in the event of good U.S. data. Euro-linked shares rose sharply, especially from midday, as the euro climbed against both the dollar and the yen. Sony (6758.TO) added 2.7% to Y3,010, while Canon rose 1.6% to Y4,185 and Nikon gained 2.8% to Y1,670. Sony's shares also benefited after a senior executive said the firm is targeting an increase in TV sales in the next fiscal year despite the likelihood it may fall short of its current sales target. "It really doesn't matter how many TVs Sony makes unless it can be profitable," said Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Investment Management. But he said that investors are increasingly responsive to any positive news on the company since Sony has been a big target of foreign buying since early November, helping it to outperform its peers handily. Osaka-listed Murata Manufacturing also added 4.4% to Y5,660 after hitting a new 2010 high on hopes for smartphone parts sales. Kirin Holdings gained 0.7% to Y1,171 despite sharply lowering fiscal year net profit forecast, as the weakness had been anticipated by the market. March Nikkei 225 futures closed up 120 points or 1.2% at 10,350 on the Osaka Securities Exchange.

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