Tokyo - Stocks in Tokyo inched up Thursday after Wall Street gains on encouraging data on US consumer spending.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was up 36.03 points, or 0.42 per cent to 8,553.13 by mid-trading. Trading volume was low as investors were absent because of the Christmas holidays.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues rose 5.23 points, or 0.63 per cent, to 832.22.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 90.49-54 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 90.36-39 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.4002-07 dollars, up from 1.3960-63 dollars , and at 126.70-75 yen, compared to 126.17-21 yen late Monday. (dpa)