Tokyo shares open higher on strong U.S. stocks

TOKYO, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo shares opened higher Friday with market sentiment boosted after the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 25,000 for the first time.

As of 9:15 a.m. local time, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 146.36 points, or 0.62 percent, from Thursday to 23,652.69.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 12.47 points, or 0.67 percent, to 1,876.29.

Gainers were led by bank, iron and steel and nonferrous metal issues.