Tokyo stocks opened sharply higher Friday, with the Nikkei index hitting a new 34-year intraday high, boosted partly by active buying of Fast Retailing after the Uniqlo clothing chain operator released favorable earnings.

In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 631.32 points, or 1.80 percent, from Thursday to 35,681.18. The broader Topix index was up 18.07 points, or 0.73 percent, at 2,500.94.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by precision instrument, wholesale trade and marine transportation issues.

At 9 a.m., the U.S. dollar fetched 145.09-12 yen compared with 145.20-30 yen in New York and 145.39-41 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0981-0985 and 159.32-41 yen against $1.0968-0978 and 159.34-44 yen in New York and $1.0979-0980 and 159.63-67 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.

==Kyodo

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