TOKYO, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index climbed over 2 percent on Thursday morning to a fresh intraday high.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 1,415.35 points, or 2.43 percent, from Wednesday to 59,549.59.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, was up 50.33 points, or 1.33 percent, at 3,820.66.
Stocks rose amid reports of positive developments concerning a resumption of negotiations between the United States and Iran.
The Nikkei stock index surpassed the previous record intraday high of 59,332.43 marked on Feb. 26.
