Women dressed in traditional kimono look at a financial board showing the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average after they attended a ceremony to mark the first trading day of the year, at the Osaka Exchange on Jan. 4, 2022. (Mainichi/Rei Kubo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks were higher Tuesday morning, the first trading day of 2022, as sentiment was lifted after Wall Street logged record highs overnight, while a weaker yen against the U.S. dollar supported export-oriented issues.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 396.45 points, or 1.38 percent, from Thursday to 29,188.16. Japanese financial markets were closed Friday and Monday due to the year-end and New Year's holidays. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 25.37 points, or 1.27 percent, at 2,017.70.

       Every industry category gained ground, except for pulp and paper issues. Gainers were led by marine transportation and transportation equipment issues.

       The U.S. dollar inched up into the mid-115 yen range in Tokyo, briefly rising to its highest level in over a month, as the yen, seen as a safe-haven asset, was sold on increased risk appetite as Tokyo stocks advanced, dealers said.

       At noon, the dollar fetched 115.59-62 yen compared with 115.28-38 yen in New York at 5 p.m. Monday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1299-1303 and 130.59-67 yen against $1.1294-1304 and 130.26-36 yen in New York late Monday afternoon.

       Stocks were higher from the outset and extended gains in the morning as the Nikkei benchmark briefly gained over 400 points, logging its largest intraday high since Nov. 26, after the Dow Jones and S&P 500 indexes closed overnight at all-time highs.

       "Sentiment was raised as U.S. and European markets proved upbeat during Japan's New Year holidays, while digital-related shares were bought after Apple Inc.'s market capitalization exceeded $3 trillion," said Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at the NLI Research Institute, adding automakers were buoyed by the weakening yen.

       Meanwhile, the market's reaction to Tokyo logging Monday 103 daily coronavirus cases, the highest number in three months, was limited due to reports the Omicron variant, which has been spreading recently, was less likely to cause hospitalizations, he said.

       Investors are focused on a slew of economic data to be released throughout the week including U.S. employment data for December, as well as the minutes from the two-day U.S. Federal Reserve meeting last month, Ide said.

       On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,407 to 700, while 76 ended the morning unchanged.

       Apple Inc. suppliers advanced after the tech giant became the first U.S. company to briefly reach $3 trillion in market value overnight in U.S. trading.

       Alps Alpine gained 34 yen, or 3.1 percent, to 1,119 yen, while Murata Manufacturing added 171 yen, or 1.9 percent, to 9,328 yen.

       Among exporters, Nissan Motor rose 26.1 yen, or 4.7 percent, to 581.9 yen, Mazda Motor climbed 39 yen, or 4.4 percent, to 924 yen, and Suzuki Motor was up 96 yen, or 2.2 percent, at 4,525 yen.

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