Tokyo stocks opened mixed Tuesday, as selling on speculation that the Bank of Japan may tweak its policy to allow the 10-year government bond yield to rise above its 1.0 percent limit was offset by higher banking shares on the prospect of higher interest rates.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 128.65 points, or 0.42 percent, from Monday to 30,568.31. The broader Topix index was up 4.43 points, or 0.20 percent, at 2,235.67.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by bank and insurance issues, while the main decliners were electric power and gas, and electric appliance shares.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond climbed to 0.955 percent, its highest level in around 10 years and five months amid speculation about the BOJ policy tweak.
At 9 a.m., the U.S. dollar fetched 149.09-11 yen compared with 149.00-10 yen in New York and 149.49-52 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Monday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0612-0616 and 158.21-30 yen against $1.0610-0620 and 158.17-27 yen in New York and $1.0556-0557 and 157.82-86 yen in Tokyo late Monday afternoon.
