* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: +157 (+0.9%) to 17,556.87 (open: 17,455; range: 17,411 - 17,599)

* Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +160 (+0.9%) to 17,560 (open: 17,470; range: 17,410 - 17,610)

* TOPIX 1st Section: +14.98 (+0.9%) to 1,710.67 (open: 1,702.19; range: 1,695.35 - 1,714.36), Advancers 1,035 x decliners 571 (117 unchanged)

* JASDAQ: +0.01 (+0.01%) to 77.96 (open: 77.88; range: 77.69 - 78.23)