Tokyo stocks open lower as yen's rise impacts exporters

TOKYO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Friday as the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar following Wall Street's overnight retreat sent exporters lower.

As of 9:15 a.m. local time, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 161.27 points, or 0.71 percent, from Thursday to 22,533.18.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 15.27 points, or 0.84 percent, at 1,792.87.

Information and communication, bank and transportation equipment-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in early trade.