Tokyo stocks retreat in morning on yen's rise, protectionism concerns

TOKYO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks retreated Monday morning as the yen's rise against the U.S. dollar weighed on sentiment and dragged exporter issues down, while concerns about U.S. protectionism and the Bank of Japan's possible shift in its monetary easing policy next year compounded a dour mood.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 138.03 points, or 0.65 percent, from Friday to 21,043.61.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 11.85 points, or 0.69 percent, at 1,696.49.

Nonferrous metal, marine transportation, and iron and steel-linked issues comprised those that declined the most by the morning break.