Prospect of more Abenomics boosts Nikkei index

TOKYO -- Japan's equity market opened with an air of optimism on Monday, despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announcing his resignation last week, signaling that investors expect no significant change in the country's economic policy.

Relief swept the market as Chief Cabinet Secretary and Abe's right-hand man, Yoshihide Suga, emerged as a leading candidate to take over Abe's post.