Tokyo stocks mixed in morning on Wall Street's lead, drop on Asian bourses

TOKYO, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks were mixed Thursday morning as U.S. shares rising overnight and a weaker yen versus the U.S. dollar spurred buying, while selling was prompted by other major Asian bourses trading lower.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 40.39 points, or 0.20 percent, from Wednesday to 20,402.36.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 3.30 points, or 0.21 percent, at 1,541.07.

Pulp and paper, securities firms, and nonferrous metal issues comprised notable advancers, while rubber product, farm and fishery, and retail issues led those that declined the most by the morning break.