TOKYO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks surged Tuesday morning to an intraday record high on growing speculation that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will dissolve the House of Representatives in late January for a snap election.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 1,791.57 points, or 3.45 percent, from Friday to 53,731.46, hitting an intraday record high.
The broader Topix index was up 77.84 points, or 2.22 percent, at 3,591.95, also an intraday record high.
Japanese markets were closed Monday for a public holiday.
Kyodo News reported on Sunday that Takaichi has told a ruling Liberal Democratic Party official that she is considering dissolving the House of Representatives at the outset of the ordinary parliamentary session scheduled to begin on Jan. 23. ■
