TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks were slightly higher Thursday morning, as gains in exporters on a weaker yen were limited by tech shares that tracked overnight declines in their U.S. counterparts.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 39.36 points, or 0.10 percent, from Wednesday to 38,761.02. The broader Topix index was up 12.51 points, or 0.46 percent, at 2,720.93.

The U.S. dollar climbed above the 156 yen line, its highest level since late July, as news Republicans are likely to have won majorities in both houses of U.S. Congress fueled expectations that President-elect Donald Trump will face little opposition in his pursuit of policies that are expected to worsen inflation and push interest rates higher.

At noon, the dollar fetched 156.00-01 yen compared with 155.45-55 yen in New York and 155.10-12 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0549-0550 and 164.56-59 yen against $1.0560-0570 and 164.17-27 yen in New York and $1.0602-0603 and 164.44-48 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.

Stocks opened higher as the U.S. Dow Jones index rose overnight and investors bought back shares after a two-day losing streak on the Nikkei benchmark, with exporters snapped up amid the weaker yen that raises prospects of their repatriated profits being higher.

But the key index trimmed gains as heavyweight technology stocks were sold in line with their U.S. counterparts amid concerns about higher borrowing costs, analysts said.