TOKYO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index opened higher Tuesday tracking gains on Wall Street overnight, particularly the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The Dow closed at a record high overnight on expectations that a key U.S. tax reform bill will be passed into law this year.
The broader topix index, meanwhile, opened largely flat.
As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 34.97 points, or 0.15 percent, from Monday to 22,936.74.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, shed 0.18 points, or 0.01 percent, to 1,817.72.
Rubber product, securities and transportation equipment-linked issues comprised those that advanced the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.
