Tokyo stocks open lower as market mood soured by DPRK missile launch

TOKYO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Monday as the market mood was soured before the opening bell by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea igniting fresh geopolitical concerns and firing a missile that may have landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 51.52 points, or 0.26 percent, from Friday to 19,635.32.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 2.39 points, or 0.15 percent, to 1,567.03.

Iron and steel, mining, and oil and coal product-related stocks composed those that declined the most in early trade.