Tokyo stocks advanced on Thursday morning, with the index ending 0.45 percent higher, bolstered by a strong Japanese machinery orders report as well as continued rises on Wall Street. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 71.08 points from Wednesday to 15,879.81. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange increased 10.70 points, or 0.83 percent, to 1, 305.22. Gainers were led by steel, utility and automobile, while paper and pulp, warehouse and retail shares lost ground.