TOKYO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Wednesday morning as investors were heartened by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicating overnight that the current halt in interest rate hikes will not be changing soon.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 103.83 points, or 0.48 percent, from Tuesday to 21,553.22.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 3.18 points, or 0.20 percent, at 1,620.38.

Pharmaceutical, construction and real estate-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.