TOKYO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index hit a fresh record high on Monday morning, surpassing the 65,000 mark for the first time.

At 9:43 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average was up 1,822.11 points, or 2.88 percent, from Friday at 65,161.18. The broader Topix index, meanwhile, was up 58.48 points, or 1.50 percent, at 3,950.94.