Tokyo stocks opened lower Wednesday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, amid rekindling concern about the U.S. financial sector after regional lender First Republic Bank reported a sharp drop in deposits.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 200.27 points, or 0.70 percent, from Tuesday to 28,419.80. The broader Topix index was down 17.78 points, or 0.87 percent, at 2,024.37.
Decliners were led by bank, securities house and insurance shares.
At 9 a.m., the U.S. dollar fetched 133.69-70 yen compared with 133.66-76 yen in New York and 134.14-17 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0978-0979 and 146.76-79 yen against $1.0970-0980 and 146.70-80 yen in New York, and $1.1032-1033 and 148.00-04 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
