The Nikkei stock index hit a fresh record high above the 41,000 mark Friday morning, lifted by overnight gains on Wall Street and the boosting of exporter issues by the yen's weakness against the U.S. dollar.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 28.87 points, or 0.07 percent, from Thursday to 40,844.53. The broader Topix index was up 12.37 points, or 0.44 percent, at 2,808.58.
The dollar briefly climbed to the upper 151 yen range in Tokyo following better-than-expected U.S. manufacturing-related data that spurred expectations of a wider interest rate differential between the United States and Japan, dealers said.
At noon, the dollar fetched 151.62-65 yen compared with 151.57-67 yen in New York and 151.22-24 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0837-0841 and 164.31-39 yen against $1.0854-0864 and 164.59-69 yen in New York and $1.0928-0929 and 165.26-30 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.
The benchmark Nikkei opened with a fresh intraday record after the three key U.S. stock indexes closed at all-time highs. Exporters such as automakers were sought on the yen's ongoing weakness against the dollar, analysts said.
"But the market was capped as the Nikkei index has risen over 2,100 points in the past three trading days, leading some to lock in gains following its rapid rise," said Maki Sawada, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
