Tokyo stocks lose ground in morning

TOKYO, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks lost ground Friday morning.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 337.37 points, or 1.63 percent, from Thursday to 20,413.91.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 26.47 points, or 1.69 percent, at 1,542.56.

Machinery, marine transportation, and oil and coal product-linked issues comprised notable decliners by the morning break.