TOKYO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo shares edged up Friday morning, with the Nikkei index briefly retaking the 18,000 line and hitting a roughly 10-month-high, due to strong U.S. stocks overnight and rising expectations of a near-term U.S. rate hike.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 149.16 points, or 0.84 percent, from Thursday to 18,011.79.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange edged up 8.11 points, or 0.57 percent, to 1,431.19.
Gainers were led by marine transportation, transportation equipment, and glass and ceramic product issues.
