Japan Stocks Open higher after strong US lead

Japan stocks advanced Thursday morning after an overnight rally in U.S. markets, with the Nikkei Average NIK, +1.10% up 1%. The broader Topix I0000, +0.00% rose 0.8%, while the yen USDJPY, +0.15% fell to ¥109.26 against the dollar, compared with ¥109.19 a day ago.

Auto makers benefited from the weaker yen, as Mazda Motor Corp. JP:N7261 headed up 1.9%, Toyota Motor Corp. 7203, +1.68% improved by 1%, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 7267, +0.42% tacked on 0.8%, and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. 7201, +1.02% zoomed 0.7% higher.

Tech exporters were also well bid, with top winners including industrial-robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp. 6954, +0.85% , gaining 1.6%, electronics giant Panasonic Corporation 6752, +0.96% rising 1.2%, console maker Nintendo Co., Ltd. 7974, +1.54% adding 1%, camera maker Olympus Corp. 7733, +1.13% up 0.9%, and semiconductor firm Renesas Electronics Corporation 6723, +0.86% higher by 0.6%.

Meanwhile, Internet and telecom conglomerate SoftBank Corp. 9984, +1.28% snagged a 1.4% gain.

Source: marketwatch.com