Nikkei Opens Above 12,300 On Wall St Gains, Weaker Yen

TOKYO (NQN)--Tokyo stocks opened higher Monday, with the Nikkei Stock Average climbing 79 points, or 0.65%, to begin the day at 12,363.

The benchmark index rose to its highest level since Sept. 10, 2008, when it was at 12,404.

The Dow Jones industrial average reached a new record high Friday after the U.S. government said the number of employed people in nonagricultural sectors rose more than expected in February. The dollar's rise to the 96 yen level is also pushing up Tokyo stocks.

Meanwhile, core machinery orders for January, which were announced before the bell, dropped 13.1% from December, significantly falling below a 1.4% decline projected by market analysts. Trading appears mixed as a result.

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