Tokyo stocks opened higher on Thursday, the first trading day of 2007, with optimistic expectations for a year of steady economic recovery in Japan.

In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 94.67 points, or 0.55 percent, to 17,320.50.

The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 11.80 points, or 0.70 percent, to 1,692.87. The Second Section was also higher.