TOKYO, March 1, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Tokyo shares opened higher on Tuesday

after Wall Street avoided sharp selloffs on the Ukraine crisis, while
investors awaited further economic news in the US.

  The benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 1.20 percent, or 317.84 points, to
26,844.66 in early trade, while the broader Topix index climbed 0.91 percent,
or 17.23 points, to 1,904.16.

  The dollar stood at 115.05 yen, compared with 114.93 yen seen Monday in New
York.

  The Dow fell 0.5 percent, but the Nasdaq added 0.4 percent.

  The Tokyo market lifted as investors' aversion to risk softened after US
shares avoided sharp drops despite earlier concerns that broad financial
sanctions against Russia and its banking institutions could dent the global
economy.

  "US shares were mixed... A sense of relief should cover Tokyo shares,"
Okasan Online Securities said in a note.

  "Once early buying subsides, we expect investors to take wait-and-see
positions ahead of the release of ISM data (for US manufacturing activities)
later today and Fed Chair (Jerome) Powell's Congressional appearance
tomorrow," it added.

  Overnight, Raphael Bostic, president of Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta,
said he favoured raising interest rates by 25 basis points in March while
adding that a 50-basis-point hike was also possible depending on the level of
inflation.

  "There are many major economic events expected in the US, and the market's
focus may shift to US monetary policy," Okasan said.

  All eyes also remain on Ukraine, with leading democracies imposing broad
sanctions targeting assets of Russian leaders and Russian financial
institutions.

  "The sense of uncertainty for the global economic outlook may increase as
the US, Europe and Japan impose sanctions, but hopes for cease-fire
negotiations are providing support for the market," Okasan said.

  "The market will remain sensitive to news headlines," it said.

  Among major shares, Toyota began the day in red but emerged above water and
was trending up 0.02 percent to 2,139 yen by mid-morning, as the world's
biggest automaker shuts down its domestic factories after a reported
cyberattack on a parts supplier.

  Troubled engineering conglomerate Toshiba was also up 3.87 percent to 4,754
yen after local media reported top officials chief executive and chairman
Satoshi Tsunakawa plan to step down.

  The firm's management is facing loud opposition from some investors about
its reform initiatives and plans to spin off a segment of its business, after
allegations management attempted to weaken the influence of activist
investors.

  SoftBank Group rose 3.63 percent to 5,311 yen. Uniqlo-operator Fast
Retailing advanced 2.57 percent to 63,420 yen. Sony edged up 0.25 percent to
11,840 yen.