TOKYO: Tokyo stocks opened 1.37 percent higher on Wednesday after overnight surges on overseas markets.
The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange opened up 129.59 points at 9,594.30.
Wall Street and European markets rose sharply Tuesday after a successful Spanish bond auction eased investor concerns over Europe's sovereign debt issues, said Rakuten Securities senior market analyst Masayuki Doshida.
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday raised its 2012 global economic growth outlook to 3.5 percent, which leads to a favourable environment along with a weaker yen, Doshida told Dow Jones Newswires.
The dollar firmed to 81.00 yen in early Asian trade from 80.87 yen in New York late Tuesday. The euro bought $1.3131 and 106.41 yen against $1.3127 and 106.16 yen.
US shares were led by a huge jump from Apple as several positive earnings surprises and the IMF's improved outlook for world growth inspired buyers. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.50 percent to 13,115.54.