Tokyo---Tokyo stocks opened 0.21 percent higher on Thursday as investors watched for developments in a stand-off over the Greek bailout with Athens looking to request a loan extension without strings attached.
The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 38.18 points at 18,237.35 at the start.
US stocks Wednesday recovered from early losses to finish little changed as Federal Reserve meeting minutes suggested it would wait longer before raising interest rates.
Investors were also watching the Greek debt negotiations.
Athens was expected to send a letter to Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup of EU finance ministers, on Thursday to request an extension of up to six months on its European loan agreement that would sidestep the duties of a full-blown bailout.
After the new Greek government said it was looking to request a loan extension from the eurozone without strings attached, warnings flooded in from the EU and US over the perils of losing valuable time with proposals that were doomed to fail.
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said Wednesday the country was "optimistic" it would resolve the bailout crisis despite EU scepticism.
The euro fetched $1.399 and 135.36 yen compared with $1.1398 and 135.35 yen in New York Wednesday afternoon.
The dollar bought 118.73 yen early Thursday against 118.76 yen in New York.
Japan's trade deficit in January more than halved year-on-year, helped by stronger exports and lower oil prices, government data showed 10 minutes before the opening bell Thursday.
Overnight on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.10 percent after minutes from the Fed's January monetary policy board meeting showed many members were concerned about moving too soon on rate hikes and stifling economic growth.
AFP
