TOKYO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Friday morning as investors sought out bargains in early trade with support provided by hopes for robust earnings reports from Japanese companies that will be release next week.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 73.47 points, or 0.31 percent, from Thursday to 23,836.84.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 12 points, or 0.64 percent, to 1,888.86.

Air transportation, construction and metal product-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break. Enditem