0011 GMT — The Nikkei Stock Average is 0.9% higher at 33742.45 in early trade, buoyed by lower-than-expected Japan’s October core CPI and JPY weakness. Mild gains in U.S. stock-index futures may also be supporting local markets. Gains on the benchmark index are broad-based, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries rising 3.3%, Screen Holdings adding 4.0%, and Renesas Electronics up 2.9%. USD/JPY is at 149.67, compared with 148.74 as of Wednesday’s Tokyo stock-market close. The Japanese stock market was closed for a holiday on Thursday. ([email protected])