TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks rose Friday morning, lifted by some exporter issues as the yen weakened after the Japanese finance minister said his U.S. counterpart had made no reference to currency targets during their meeting in Washington.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 488.24 points, or 1.39 percent, from Thursday to 35,527.39. The broader Topix index was up 27.76 points, or 1.07 percent, at 2,620.32.

The U.S. dollar briefly rose to the lower 143 yen range in Tokyo as the remark by Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato led to yen-selling by investors who had been concerned that the United States would urge Japan to address the yen's weakness against the dollar, dealers said.

At noon, the dollar fetched 142.96-98 yen compared with 142.56-66 yen in New York and 142.57-59 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The euro was quoted at $1.1346-1350 and 162.20-27 yen against $1.1384-1394 and 162.42-52 yen in New York and $1.1379-1380 and 162.24-28 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.

The Nikkei stock index hit a three-week high on an intraday basis as investors sought export-linked electronics and machinery shares on the weaker yen, which increases exporters' overseas profits when repatriated.

The market was also supported by overnight advances on Wall Street amid hopes for easing trade frictions between the United States and China.