Tokyo stocks rose Monday morning as exporter issues were bought on the back of a weaker yen, with sentiment further buoyed by the U.S. Dow Jones index hitting an all-time high late last week.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 328.07 points, or 0.92 percent, from Friday to 36,079.14. The broader Topix index was up 31.55 points, or 1.26 percent, at 2,529.20.
The U.S. dollar remained firm in the lower 148 yen range in Tokyo, as the currency was bought on expectations that the interest rate gap between the United States and Japan would widen following a rise in U.S. Treasury yields last Friday.
At noon, the U.S. dollar fetched 148.12-13 yen compared with 148.09-19 yen in New York and 147.77-79 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0842-0846 and 160.59-66 yen against $1.0846-0856 and 160.73-83 yen in New York, and $1.0819-0820 and 159.88-92 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.
Buying in a wide range of stocks pushed the Nikkei to reclaim the psychologically important 36,000 mark after it fell nearly 500 points on Friday.
Exporters were sought on prospects of improved earnings due to the weaker yen, analysts said, as it boosts their overseas profits when repatriated.
