Tokyo stocks opened sharply higher Wednesday led by tech issues, with the key Nikkei index surging 2 percent, as investor sentiment was lifted by Wall Street gains overnight.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 561.70 points, or 1.50 percent, from Tuesday to 38,113.86. The broader Topix index was up 21.68 points, or 0.81 percent, at 2,687.91.
At 9:30 a.m., the Nikkei benchmark had climbed 776.09 points, or 2.07 percent to 38,328.25.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by precision instrument, electric appliance and machinery issues.
The U.S. dollar was firm in the upper 154 yen range after hitting a new 34-year high of 154.88 yen in New York overnight, as signs of persistent inflation in U.S. economic data have reduced prospects of the Federal Reserve soon cutting interest rates.
At 9 a.m., the dollar fetched 154.73-76 yen compared with 154.78-88 yen in New York and 154.81-82 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0700-0704 and 165.56-66 yen against $1.0698-0708 and 165.62-72 yen in New York and $1.0676-0678 and 165.28-32 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
