Tokyo - The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose Thursday after Wall Street saw overnight gains and companies reported or forecast higher earnings, leading to optimism that a global economic recovery was taking hold.

The benchmark Nikkei gained 43.57 points in morning trading, or 0.44 per cent, to stand at 9,915.25.

The broader-based Topix index of all first-section issues, however, dipped slightly by 0.54 points, or 0.06 per cent, to trade at 871.75.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 89.92-94 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 90.02-03 yen.

The euro traded at 1.4980-86 dollars, down from 1.5008-11 dollars late Wednesday, and at 134.71-74 yen, down from 135.11-15 yen. (dpa)