Nikkei opened 1.57 percent higher Wednesday as sentiment was lifted by a weaker yen and a series of upbeat U.S. economic gauges. At 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 203.70 points, or 1.57 percent, from Tuesday at 13,173.04. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 14.16 points, or 1.31 percent, at 1, 092.82.