Tokyo stocks open up 0.39% on Friday

TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo stocks opened 0.39 per cent higher on Friday after Wall Street powered to record highs on aggressive easing measures by the European Central Bank.

The Nikkei 225 index was up 59.38 points at 15,138.75 at the start.

The European Central Bank rolled out an unprecedented package of measures Thursday to stimulate fragile eurozone growth and avert deflation.

The bank put its deposit rate into negative territory for the first time, meaning banks will be charged for depositing their excess cash with the central bank.

The Dow and the S&P 500 bolted to new records after the aggressive measures were unveiled.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.59 per cent to 16,836.11 while the broad-based S&P 500 rose 0.65 per cent to 1,940.46.

The euro strengthened after the announcement.

In Asian trade on Friday, the European common currency fetched US$1.3658 and 139.90 yen, little changed from US$1.3662 and 139.93 yen in New York on Thursday but up from $1.3600 and 139.43 yen in Tokyo before the ECB announcement.

The dollar was at 102.43 yen against 102.41 yen in US trade.

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