Tokyo: Stocks open 0.18% higher

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks opened 0.18 per cent higher Wednesday after record-setting gains on Wall Street and relief over a Greek debt deal.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which on Tuesday closed at a fresh 15-year high in a five-day winning streak, added 32.86 points to 18,636.34 at the start.

The Dow and S&P 500 Tuesday bolted to fresh records after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen pledged a cautious approach to raising interest rates.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 92.35 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 18,209.19, and the broad-based S&P 500 gained 5.82 points, or 0.28 per cent, at 2,115.48, also inching up to a new all-time close.

European stocks also rose strongly after eurozone finance ministers backed an extension of Greece's bailout, due to expire Saturday.

The euro bought US$1.1341 and 134.86 yen early Wednesday, compared with US$1.1342 and 134.90 yen in New York Tuesday afternoon.

The dollar was at 118.84 yen against 118.94 yen in US trade.

AFP