Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

THE MARKET closed higher, with technological stocks leading the rise following Microsoft's positive results. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed above 14,000 for the first time in a month, finishing 257.61 higher at 14,028.05.

Toshiba, the world's largest maker of notebook PCs, and Advantest, the leading maker of equipment for testing microchips, both surged. Banks were also in positive territory on optimism about consolidation in Japan's financial system following the merger of Mitsui Trust and Chuo Trust.