Tokyo stocks were slightly higher Tuesday morning as investors bought semiconductor-related shares that tracked gains in their U.S. counterparts overnight, with the upside capped as a stronger yen drove selling of some exporter issues.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 86.89 points, or 0.24 percent, from Monday to 36,113.83. The broader Topix index was up 1.55 points, or 0.06 percent, at 2,531.03.
The U.S. dollar edged down to the lower 147 yen range in Tokyo after U.S. long-term interest rates fell overnight, raising prospects of a narrowing in the interest rate differential between Japan and the United States.
At noon, the U.S. dollar fetched 147.43-46 yen compared with 147.43-53 yen in New York and 147.79-81 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Monday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0832-0836 and 159.70-79 yen against $1.0827-0837 and 159.74-84 yen in New York, and $1.0836-0837 and 160.15-19 yen in Tokyo late Monday afternoon.
Tokyo stocks were supported by overnight advances of key indexes including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which logged a fresh record high.
But gains were trimmed on the back of the yen's appreciation and declines in other Asian markets.
Investors were also cautious that selling could kick in as the Nikkei has crossed the 36,000 line, said Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at the NLI Research Institute.
