TOKYO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Thursday morning as investor sentiment was lifted by the U.S. exempting Japan and four other countries from new global U.S. tariffs on some steel imports.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 178.85 points, or 0.79 percent, from Wednesday to 22,734.28.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 4.55 points, or 0.26 percent, to 1,757.30.

Machinery, pharmaceutical and oil and coal product-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.?