Tokyo shares opened higher Wednesday on rekindled hopes that the worst is over for the current wave of Covid infections as the renewed optimism sent Wall Street to record finishes.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.17 percent, or 48.28 points, to 27,780.38, while the broader Topix index gained 0.21 percent, or 4.07 points, to 1,938.27.