Tokyo stocks hit six-week high

TOKYO, (KUNA) -- Tokyo stocks soared on Monday, sending a key index to a six-week high on the back of a weaker yen and last Friday's Wall Street's rally that was pushed by a better-than-forecast US jobs.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) advanced 216.96 points, or 2.09 percent, from Friday to 10,585.92, the highest closing level since Jan. 22. The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index, which includes all First Section issues on the TSE, was up 16.50 points, or 1.81 percent, to 927.31, with 31 of 33 industry groups gaining. Major gainers included auto and machinery issues. Yen depreciation against both the dollar and the euro also encouraged investors to buy export-oriented shares. In the currency markets, at 4:25 p.m. (0725 GMT), the US dollar traded at JPY 90.39-44 versus JPY 90.27-37 in New York and JPY 89.37-38 in Tokyo at 5 p.m.

Friday. The US dollar briefly hit a two-week high in the upper 90 yen level in the morning.