Share prices closed higher as the encouraging results of the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey of business sentiment raised investors' confidence in the Japanese economy, dealers said. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed up 46.12 points or 0.4 pct at 11,630.13, gaining for the fourth consecutive day, and up 0.8 pct on last Friday. The broader TOPIX index of all First Section issues finished up 4.6 points or 0.4 pct at 1,181.80, making a 0.7 pct gain from a week earlier. Gainers overwhelmed decliners 1,055 to 439, with 155 issues unchanged, on volume of 1.5 bln shares, up from 1.7 bln shares yesterday. "Investors are heartened by the better-than-expected Tankan outcome. Those who were willing to sell shares if the results were bad did not have to do that for now," said Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Investment Management. "But the rise in the market may be short-lived, as some investors are still cautious about the data and watching closely the US market," Akino added.