Tokyo: Stocks open up 0.39%

[Tokyo] Tokyo stocks opened 0.39 per cent higher on Friday as US and European markets settled down after days of upheaval driven by fears of global economic weakness.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which dropped more than two percent on Thursday to a near five-month low, gained 57.94 points to 14,796.32 at the start.

The dollar held firm after rallying in New York.

The greenback was at 106.37 yen early Friday, compared with 106.33 yen in New York Thursday afternoon.

The euro bought US$1.2803 and 136.16 yen against US$1.2809 and 136.19 yen in US trade.

Wall Street finished little changed after another rocky trading session Thursday, as the market weighed better US economic data against its fears over sluggish global growth.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.15 per cent to 16,117.24, rebounding after losing more than 200 points earlier in the session.

Europ's main stock markets also closed mixed on Thursday, a day after they lost more than two per cent. AFP