Tokyo stocks opened mixed Wednesday as buying of high tech-related shares, tracking overnight rises of their U.S. counterparts, was offset by selling to lock in recent gains.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 61.93 points, or 0.16 percent, from Tuesday to 39,235.08. The broader Topix index was down 5.46 points, or 0.20 percent, at 2,781.91.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by pharmaceutical and bank issues, while transportation equipment and rubber product issues led decliners.
At 9 a.m., the U.S. dollar fetched 159.70-71 yen compared with 159.61-71 yen in New York and 159.48-50 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0707-0711 and 170.99-171.07 yen against $1.0709-0719 and 170.98-171.08 yen in New York and $1.0726-0727 and 171.06-10 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
