Tokyo stocks opened higher Friday, with the Nikkei index hitting a new all-time high, as buying was led by technology issues tracking advances by their U.S. counterparts overnight.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 277.47 points, or 0.71 percent, from Thursday to 39,443.66. The broader Topix index was up 12.80 points, or 0.48 percent, at 2,688.53.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by mining, oil and coal product, and insurance shares.
At 9 a.m., the U.S. dollar fetched 150.06-09 yen compared with 149.92-150.02 yen in New York and 149.66-69 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0805-0806 and 162.14-19 yen against $1.0800-0810 and 162.00-10 yen in New York, and $1.0828-0829 and 162.07-11 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.
