Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks bounced back Thursday as investors bought mainly export-oriented issues on the US dollar's advance against the yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was up 37.93 points in morning trading, or 0.5 per cent, to 7,572.37. The index hit a four-month low the previous day on worries over a prolonged recession worldwide.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also up 3.09 points, or 0.41 per cent, at 752.35.

Exporters were helped by the stronger US currency, which rose to a six-week high, because a weaker yen boosts overseas earnings of Japanese firms and makes Japanese products cheaper abroad.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 93.62-67 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 92.58-60 yen.

The euro traded at 1.2564-69 dollars, down from late Wednesday's quote of 1.2611-13 dollars, and at 117.65-70 yen, up from 116.75-79 yen. (dpa)