Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened higher Monday on Wall Street rises before the weekend and the US dollar's advance against the yen.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 232.98 points, or 1.84 per cent, to 12,899.02.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 23.77 points, or 1.95 per cent, at 1,240.19.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 109.91-96 yen, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 109.10-11 yen. A stronger dollar makes Japanese products cheaper overseas.

Indian stocks broadened its losses during the week ended August 22, owing to reappearing US mortgage crisis, exerting pressure on international markets for the week under review.

Global developments, including increase in crude oil prices, high inflationary numbers and sustained capital outflows from the Indian equity also contributed to the downbeat responses, turning the BSE Sensex under the psychological 15K-mark.

Indian stock markets closed the week on a positive note on Friday (August 22) after making a gain of 157.76 points at 14,401.49 after touching an intra-day high of 14,428.52 and an intra-day low of 14,136.86.

In contrast, the broad-based NSE Nifty marked its closure at 4,327.45, up 43.60 points, after touching an intra-day high of 4,337.00 and an intra-day low of 4,248.00.

Indian stock markets closed the week on a pleasant note on account of good buying activity witnessed in metal, banking and FMCG stocks.

The 30-share index, BSE Sensex opened lower at 14,153.39, down 90.34 points, on Friday (August 22) mirroring worldwide signals and also due to rise in crude oil prices. In the noon trades, the BSE traded higher because of strong European markets.  

All sectoral indices marked their closures on a positive note led by BSE Metal, which gained 1.62%, BSE Bankex surged 1.18%, FMCG zoomed 1.09% and Oil & Gas climbed 1.05%.         

Washington - US stocks advanced Friday as oil prices dropped and there was increasing speculation that investment bank Lehman Brothers might attract a major international buyer.

The shares of Lehman jumped 13 per cent after the Korea Investment Bank said it was considering an acquisition.

United Airlines parent company, UAL Corp, witnessed a 12 per cent increase in shares, as crude oil plunged 5.4 per cent - its lowest in four years, Bloomberg financial news agency reported. Crude tumbled 6.59 dollars a barrel, to 114.59 dollars, in New York.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks extended their losses Friday on the back of oil price rises and a stronger yen.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 85.5 points in morning trading, or 0.67 per cent, to trade at 12,666.71.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 8.14 points, or 0.66 per cent, at 1,216.39.

Exporters were hurt by a weaker US dollar against the yen as a stronger yen makes Japanese products more expensive overseas.