Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, as a sharp rise in coronavirus infections in China dampened investors' hopes that its shift away from the strict "zero-COVID" policy will buoy the global economy.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 288.06 points, or 1.09 percent, from Wednesday to 26,052.44. The broader Topix index was down 21.34 points, or 1.12 percent, at 1,887.68.
On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by mining, rubber product and food issues.
At 9 a.m., the dollar fetched 134.01-04 yen compared with 134.43-53 yen in New York and 133.91-93 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0627-0631 and 142.41-50 yen against $1.0607-0617 and 142.63-73 yen in New York and $1.0644-0646 and 142.54-58 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.
