Tokyo: Stocks open 0.55% higher

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks opened 0.55 per cent higher on Tuesday following gains on Wall Street as oil prices rose again.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 96.56 points to 17,654.60 at the start.

The higher opening came after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.14 per cent Monday led by strong gains in petroleum-linked equities.

Energy stocks surged as US oil prices rose for third straight session behind news of lower rig counts and exploration spending cuts.

The dollar was at 117.53 yen early Tuesday compared with 117.64 yen in New York Monday afternoon.

The euro bought US$1.1339 and 133.24 yen against US$1.1343 and 133.43 yen in US trade.

AFP