Tokyo: Stocks open 0.46% higher

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks opened 0.46 per cent higher on Thursday following solid gains on Wall Street and as the dollar rose against the yen, continuing to rally after hitting a 15-year high.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which closed above 20,000 for the first time in 15 years on Wednesday, added 93.38 points to 20,227.28 at the start.

The dollar was at 119.96 yen early Thursday, edging up from 119.89 yen in New York late Wednesday and 119.54 yen in Tokyo earlier Wednesday.

The euro bought US$1.0726 and 128.66 yen against US$1.0725 and 128.58 yen in US trade.

US stocks Wednesday posted solid gains following a big jump in US existing-home sales.

The Dow Jones Industrial advanced 0.49 per cent while the broad-based S&P rose 0.51 per cent.

AFP