Tokyo, Nov 19 (IANS): Tokyo shares opened higher on Thursday with market expectation of an US interest rate raise in December strengthened by the released minutes of a Federal Reserve meeting.
At 9.15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 206.21 points, or 1.05 percent, from Wednesday to 19,855.39, Xinhua news agency reported.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 14.62 points, or 0.92 percent, to 1,601.15.
Gainers were led by iron and steel, precision instruments and nonferrous metals.