Japanese stocks off to bright start

Japanese stocks jumped in early trading on Wednesday as US shares rallied overnight following a rise in crude oil prices.

As of 9.15 a.m. (local time), the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average leapt 312.76 points, or 1.68 percent, from Tuesday to 18,878.66, Xinhua reported.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange jumped 25.83 points, or 1.72 percent, to 1,528.38.

Early advancers comprised information and communication, securities and banking-linked shares.