TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks rose Wednesday morning as investors welcomed slowing inflation in the United States, but rising tensions in the Middle East trimmed gains.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 610.41 points, or 0.90 percent, from Tuesday to 68,353.91. The broader Topix index was up 21.52 points, or 0.53 percent, at 4,060.50.

The U.S. dollar mostly traded in the lower 162 yen range in Tokyo, as the yen was bought following the overnight release of the U.S. consumer price index for June, which showed cooling inflation.

At noon, the dollar fetched 162.10-11 yen compared with 162.22-32 yen in New York and 162.33-35 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The euro was quoted at $1.1441-1444 and 185.46-47 yen against $1.1415-1425 and 185.24-34 yen in New York and $1.1395-1397 and 184.98-185.02 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.

The Nikkei stock index briefly rose over 1,000 points as a broader range of issues were bought following overnight gains on Wall Street. However, stocks briefly gave up most of their gains to around the previous day's closing level on renewed concerns over the Middle East situation.

Artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares were the notable gainers.