Japanese shares jumped more than 1 per cent Thursday morning as sentiment was buoyed by expectations of more monetary easing measures in Europe and the United States, according to dpa. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 107.78 points, or 1.26 per cent, to trade at 8,641.31 at the end of the morning session at 11:30 am (0230 GMT). The broader-based Topix index was up 10.2 points, or 1.42 per cent, at 728.76. The yen's retreat against major currencies also helped bolster export-linked stocks. A weaker yen makes Japanese goods less expensive overseas and improves repatriated earnings. Shares in Canon Inc jumped 3.57 per cent, Sony Corp gained 2.85 per cent, Honda Motor Co rose 1.97 per cent and Toyota Motor Corp was up 1.7 per cent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 2.37 per cent Wednesday after indications that central bankers were considering stimulus measures in both Europe and the United States. In Tokyo, on currency markets at 11:30 am, the dollar traded at 79.32-34 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 79.15-17 yen. The euro was quoted at 1.2570-2572 dollars, up from 1.2515-2517 dollars late Wednesday, and at 99.70-74 yen, up from 99.06-10 yen.
