Tokyo stocks rose Wednesday morning, boosted by the technology sector that tracked overnight gains on Wall Street and the buying of issues in Japanese companies that announced share buyback plans the previous day.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 135.09 points, or 0.35 percent, from Tuesday to 38,491.15. The broader Topix index was up 5.02 points, or 0.18 percent, at 2,735.97.
The U.S. dollar traded mostly in the mid-156 yen zone as a wait-and-see mood prevailed ahead of U.S. consumer price index data for April due out later in the day, dealers said.
At noon, the U.S. dollar fetched 156.46-47 yen compared with 156.39-49 yen in New York and 156.45-47 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0823-0827 and 169.34-41 yen against $1.0815-0825 and 169.19-29 yen in New York, and $1.0786-0788 and 168.75-79 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
On the stock market, gains were led by buying of heavyweight semiconductor and electronics shares after the U.S. Nasdaq index closed at a record high overnight, analysts said.
The market was also supported by buying of companies that announced Tuesday plans to enhance shareholder returns, including Sony Group and department store operator Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, brokers said.
But rises were capped ahead of the U.S. inflation and other economic data, with "investors eager to see how the U.S. market will respond before making moves," said Maki Sawada, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
