Tokyo stocks open lower as yen's appreciation weighs on exporters

TOKYO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday as the yen's rise against the U.S. dollar weighed on exporter issues which have a wide bearing on the broader market.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 149.30 points, or 0.63 percent, from Wednesday to 23,638.90.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 12.74 points, or 0.67 percent, at 1,879.37.

Transportation equipment, metal product and precision instrument-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in early trade.