Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended morning trading higher Friday on renewed optimism over the US financial sector and the US dollar's advance against the yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 194.29 points, or 2.22 per cent, to 8,949.55.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 15.04 points, or 1.81 per cent, to 847.08.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 99.45-50 yen, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 98.64-66 yen. A weaker yen helps boost earnings of Japanese firms and makes Japanese products cheaper abroad.

The euro traded at 1.3188-93 dollars, up from late Thursday's quote of 1.3163-64 dollars, and at 131.20-25 yen, up from 129.84-88 yen. (dpa)