TOKYO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday as the market inherited a weak lead from Wall Street overnight and the yen's rise against the U.S. dollar impacted exporters issues.
As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 169.28 points, or 0.79 percent, from Wednesday to 21,299.90.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 11.93 points, or 0.76 percent, at 1,555.48.
Oil and coal product, marine transportation and electric appliance-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.