Tokyo, Dec 8 : Japan markets opened stronger Monday, with stocks driven up by hope for the US economy to recover as president-elect Barack Obama Saturday pledged a large-scale spending plan.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was up 203.2 points, or 2.57 percent, to 8,120.71 by mid-trading, carrying over Friday's positive sentiment at Wall Street.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues rose 11.34 points, or 1.44 percent to 797.36.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 92.75-80 yen, up from Friday's 5 p.m. quote of 92.23-25 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.2728-33 dollars, down from 1.2665-67 dollars before the weekend, and at 118.09-14 yen, up from 117.73-77 yen.
