Tokyo stocks opened higher on Thursday morning supported by gains on U.S. stocks and strong machinery orders of Japan in November. At 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average was up 78.49 points, or 0.50 percent, from Wednesday to 15,887.22. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 7.73 points, or 0.60 percent, to 1,302. 25.