Tokyo - Japan markets opened up Monday, largely over reports that company earnings may not be as bad as expected.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 72.64 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 8,766.46 at 9:36 am local time. The broader Topix index climbed 8.62, or 1 per cent, to 902.91.
Sony Corp advanced 2.3 per cent, while Panasonic Corp climed 6.6 per cent. Japan's biggest steelmakers - Nippon Steel Corp and JFE Holdings - were expected to boost annual earnings targets.