Nikkei ended 1.48 percent higher Friday, with the index ending at its highest level in more than a week amid growing expectations for progress over the U.S. budget impasse. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed up 210.03 points, from Thursday at 14,404.74. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 19.22 points, or 1.63 percent, at 1, 197.17. All 33 sectors gained, led by consumer finance, paper, and steelmakers. The turnover was 2270.8 billion yen (about 23.0645156 billion U. S. dollars).