Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened higher Thursday as worries about the US economy eased and the US dollar's advance against the yen.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average advanced 144.86 points, or 1.03 per cent, to 14,263.41.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 21.22 points, or 1.55 per cent, at 1,394.26.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 105.15-20 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 105.14-17 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.5463-68 dollars, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 1.5413-16 dollars, and at 162.63-68 yen, up from 162.08-12 yen. (dpa)