TOKYO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo shares opened sharply higher Friday with the Nikkei stocks index hitting a fresh nearly 15-year high, tracing gains in the U.S. market.
At 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 186.82 points, or 0.98 percent, from Thursday to 19,177.93, a level last seen in April 2000.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 10.34 points, or 0.67 percent, to 1, 556.97.
