Tokyo shares open higher on US gains

Tokyo shares opened the trading on Thursday higher following gains in the overnight US stocks market and a softer yen.

At 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 89.33 points, or 0.53 percent, from Wednesday to 16,968.29.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 5.28 points, or 0.39 percent, to 1,361. 57.