Share prices closed higher as investors were heartened by positive major economic indicators released in the morning, while the market was also influenced by fresh corporate results, dealers said. The blue-chip Nikkei 225 Stock Average index closed up 41.29 points or 0.35 pct at 11,899.60, after topping the 11,900 level in early trade for the first time since March. The broader-based TOPIX index of all First Section issues rose 3.26 points or 0.3 pct to 1,204.98. Gainers outnumbered decliners 787 to 691, with 168 issues unchanged. Trading volume totalled 1.69 bln shares, down from 1.92 bln shares yesterday. In the morning, the government said industrial output rose a seasonally-adjusted 1.5 pct in June from the previous month, which was in line with expectations. The unemployment rate improved to 4.2 pct in June from 4.4 pct in May, better than the projection by economists of 4.4 pct, while the Tokyo core consumer price index fell 0.1 pct in July from the previous month, the government said. Some big companies, such as Sony, Matstushita, Omron and Shiseido moved sharply after they released earnings results.