Nikkei up 0.3 pct in cautious trade, shippers gain

TOKYO Oct 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.3 percent on Thursday as exporters such as Tokyo Electron (8035.T) gained on short-covering, while Nikon Corp (7731.T) rose after a brokerage upgrade.

Shipping firms extended gains after the Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index .BADI rose to a seven-week high on Wednesday with expectations of fresh Chinese demand driving momentum. [ID:nL7708072]

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 finished 32.87 points higher at 9,832.47.

The broader Topix .TOPX gained 0.2 percent to 887.59. (Reporting by Masayuki Kitano)