Tokyo stocks opened sharply higher Monday, with the Nikkei up over 2 percent, tracking Wall Street gains late last week amid easing fears of further interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 657.32 points, or 2.06 percent, from Thursday to 32,607.21. The broader Topix index was up 32.45 points, or 1.40 percent, at 2,354.84. Japanese financial markets were closed Friday for a national holiday.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by nonferrous metal, transportation equipment and wholesale trade issues.
At 9 a.m., the U.S. dollar fetched 149.44-47 yen compared with 149.32-42 yen in New York at 5 p.m. Friday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0730-0734 and 160.35-44 yen against $1.0725-0735 and 160.26-36 yen late Friday in New York.
