Nikkei stock index rises above 40,000 for 1st time in 5 months
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks opened higher Friday, with the Nikkei index climbing above the 40,000 line for the first time in five months after overnight gains on Wall Street.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 331.55 points, or 0.84 percent, from Thursday to 39,916.13. The broader Topix index was up 21.99 points, or 0.78 percent, at 2,826.68.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by nonferrous metal, electric appliance and transportation equipment issues.
At 9 a.m., the U.S. dollar fetched 144.66-68 yen compared with 144.35-45 yen in New York and 144.05-07 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The euro was quoted at $1.1693-1694 and 169.15-19 yen against $1.1696-1706 and 168.85-95 yen in New York and $1.1709-1711 and 168.67-71 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.
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