TOKYO, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks rose sharply from the morning bell Thursday as investor sentiment was lifted by Wall Street's solid overnight gains, while a weak yen against the U.S. dollar also contributed to an upbeat market mood.
As of 9:15 a.m local time, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 268.46 points, or 1.38 percent, from Wednesday to 19,662.00.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 21.76 points, or 1.40 percent, to 1,574.85.
Insurance, securities, and iron and steel issues comprised notable issues that quickly advanced, as all industry categories on the main section moved into positive territory in early trade.
