Tokyo shares rose slightly Tuesday morning as technology issues advanced following the solid overnight performance of their U.S. peers.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 76.91 points, or 0.34 percent, from Monday to 22,792.76. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 3.19 points, or 0.20 percent, at 1,579.88.

Major gainers included pharmaceutical, precision instrument, and information and communication issues.

In the currency market, the U.S. dollar moved little against the yen with a wait-and-see mood prevailing ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day policy setting meeting starting later in the day.

At noon, the U.S. dollar fetched 105.45-46 yen, compared with 105.32-42 yen in New York and 105.56-58 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Monday.

The euro was quoted at $1.1745-1746 and 123.86-90 yen against $1.1746-1756 and 123.79-89 yen in New York and $1.1695-1696 and 123.45-49 yen in Tokyo late Monday afternoon.

After opening almost flat, Tokyo stocks soon picked up as investors bought semiconductor issues among other technology shares, encouraged by a sharp rebound overnight in the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index, brokers said.

Still, the Nikkei's topside was heavy after gaining as much as 120 points, as an overnight advance of the yen against the dollar weighed on many export-related issues, they said.

Some investors also took to the sidelines as they awaited a slew of earnings reports by such major chip-related companies as Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. and Tokyo Electron Ltd., the brokers said.

"Investors are focusing on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses," said Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at NLI Research Institute.

On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,231 to 812, while 115 ended the morning unchanged.

Fujifilm jumped 198 yen, or 4.1 percent, to 4,975 yen after U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement Monday that the U.S. government has awarded its U.S. bio unit a $265 million contract to strengthen the country's coronavirus vaccine manufacturing capacity.

Daiichi Sankyo soared 701 yen, or 8.1 percent, to 9,367 yen after the drugmaker said it has teamed up with AstraZeneca for global development and commercialization of its experimental treatment for cancer, currently in early clinical testing with lung and breast cancer patients in Japan and the United States.

Among technology issues, TDK gained 400 yen, or 3.7 percent, to 11,100 yen, Screen Holdings climbed 130 yen, or 2.4 percent, to 5,560 yen and Advantest was up 120 yen, or 1.8 percent, at 6,770 yen.

==Kyodo

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