Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average on Friday rose above the 14,500 level for the first time in five months on Wall Street's overnight surge.

The Nikkei index advanced 222.02 points, or 1.55 per cent, to 14,563.14.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 15.81 points, or 1.11 per cent, at 1,440.26.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 105.87-92 yen, almost unchanged from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 105.89-91 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.5598-5601 dollars, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 1.5437-39 dollars, and at 165.14-19 yen, up from 163.47-51 yen. (dpa)