Tokyo stocks opened higher Monday, tracking solid U.S. markets late last week, but weaker-than-expected Japanese gross domestic product data capped the upside.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 205.02 points, or 0.72 percent, from Friday to 28,752.00, a level not seen since Jan. 18. The broader Topix index was up 6.89 points, or 0.35 percent, at 1,980.07.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by rubber product, precision instrument, and pharmaceutical issues.
Japan's economy in the April-June period grew a real 0.5 percent from the previous quarter, or an annualized 2.2 percent, government data showed prior to the market open Monday.
At 9 a.m., the dollar fetched 133.31-33 yen compared with 133.56-66 yen in New York and 133.25-27 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0253-0255 and 136.68-73 yen against $1.0251-0261 and 136.88-98 yen in New York and $1.0296-0298 and 137.20-24 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.
