* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: +16.02 (+0.09%) to 17,529 (open: 17,487; range: 17,430.70 - 17,539.95)
* Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +10 (+0.06%) to 17,560 (open: 17,500; range: 17,440 - 17,570)
* TOPIX 1st Section: -0.66 (-0.04%) to 1,711.89 (open: 1,712.63; range: 1,701.55 - 1,716.66), Advancers 553 x Decliners 1,067 (108 unchanged)
* JASDAQ: -0.63 (-0.78%) to 79.67 (open: 80.19; range: 79.60 - 80.19)

Big move to the upside for TDK (JP: 6762) (TDK) +6.38% to ¥10,510, following record earnings and an upgrade by Mizuho Securities to its highest rating and a target share price of ¥12,000 (from ¥11,300); valuation seen as attractive currently under 20x trailing earnings.

Nintendo (JP: 7974) (NTDOY.PK) topped ¥40,000 for the first time, closing up 0.6% to ¥40,100.