( dpa ) - Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday as investors locked in profits from the previous day's gains.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 123.54 points, or 0.88 per cent, to 13,978.94.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 15.56 points, or 1.12 per cent, at 1,377.72.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 104.88-93 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 105.03-06 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.5339-44 dollars, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 1.5497-5500 dollars, and at 160.92-97 yen, down from 162.80-84 yen.