Tokyo stocks opened lower Wednesday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street amid caution over prolonged U.S. interest rate hikes that briefly sent the U.S. dollar to a two-month high in the lower 135 yen level.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 250.96 points, or 0.91 percent, from Tuesday to 27,222.14. The broader Topix index was down 16.35 points, or 0.82 percent, at 1,981.11.
Decliners were led by electric appliance, service, and textiles and apparel shares.
At 9 a.m., the dollar fetched 134.99-135.00 yen compared with 134.96-135.06 yen in New York and 134.57-59 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0649-0653 and 143.75-82 yen against $1.0642-0652 and 143.65-75 yen in New York, and $1.0669-0671 and 143.58-62 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
