TOKYO, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index rose past the 10,000 line Monday morning for the first time in almost a month.

    At its opening, the Nikkei-225 index hit 10,020.87, up 76.32 points, or 0.77 percent, from Friday's close of 9,944.55.

    The benchmark index last topped the 10,000 line on July 1, logging an intraday high of 10,086.18.