Share prices closed sharply higher, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index rising more than 450 points, as foreign investors returned to the market after days of selling, dealers said. Persistent concerns about offshore investors cutting their Japanese stock holdings has been the primary catalyst for the market's slide in recent sessions. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed up 457.01 points or 2.96 pct at 15,894.98, its session high. Yesterday, the blue-chip marker fell 275.52 points or 1.75 pct to 15,437.93, its lowest finish since Jan 23. The broader TOPIX index of all first-section issues gained 40.45 points or 2.57 pct to 1,612.56, just off its high for the day of 1,612.97. Advancers beat decliners 1,371 to 259, with 43 issues unchanged. Volume fell slightly to 2.08 bln shares from 2.17 bln yesterday.