Tokyo: Stocks open up 0.12%

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks opened 0.12 per cent higher on Friday as the dollar was firm on hopes for solid US jobs data later in the day while Nintendo soared seven percent on better-than expected earnings.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 23.64 points to 19,315.63 at the start.

Shares in Nintendo shot up 7.4 percent to 21,200.0 yen in the first few minutes of trade as the videogame giant announced better-than-expected full-year earnings late Thursday.

The dollar stayed firm early Friday after rising on a positive US jobless claims report, buying 119.72 yen compared with 119.75 yen in New York late Thursday.

A weak yen is positive for Japanese exporters as it makes them more competitive abroad and increases profits when repatriated.

AFP