Tokyo shares opened higher Thursday as the US stocks rose overnight after the US central bank signaled it would not raise interest rates in the near future and as oil prices went up.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 230.84 points, or 1.34 percent, from Wednesday to 17,521.33.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 16.12 points, or 1.16 percent, to 1,400.42.

Gainers were led by mining, chemicals as well as oil and coal product issues.