TOKYO, March 18 (Xinhua) - Tokyo stocks closed higher Thursday as sentiment was lifted following the US Federal Reserve indicating it would maintain its monetary easing policy and keep its key interest rate near zero through 2023.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 302.42 points, or 1.01 percent, to finish at 30,216.75, marking its highest closing level since Feb. 18.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, climbed 24.48 points, or 1.23 percent, from Wednesday at 2,008.51.

This was the highest close for the Topix since April 1991.

Bank, securities house and rubber-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the close of play.