Tokyo stocks open higher after Dow's record close

TOKYO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened higher on Friday tracking U.S. shares' gains after the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at a fresh record high overnight.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 70.31 points, or 0.31 percent, from Thursday to 22,854.29.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 3.75 points, or 0.21 percent, to 1,822.78.

Iron and steel, wholesales and bank-linked issues comprised those that gained the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.