Tokyo - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average on Friday rose above 14,000 for the first time in four days after overnight gains on Wall Street.

The Nikkei jumped 247.54 points in morning trading, or 1.8 per cent, to 14,014.4.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 24.67 points, or 1.83 per cent, at 1,370.77.

The US market rose overnight after the Federal Reserve on Thursday dropped its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to 2 per cent, its lowest level since November 2004.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 104.37-42 yen, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 104.11-14 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.5476-79 dollars, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 1.5535-38 dollars, and at 161.55-60 yen, down from 161.77-81 yen. (dpa)