Tokyo stocks open lower as investors opt to secure gains

TOKYO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Tuesday as investors opted to lock in gains following the Nikkei's recent advances over the past two days.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 151.14 points, or 0.70 percent, from Monday to 21,433.36.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 11.90 points, or 0.74 percent, to 1,601.78.

Precision instrument, retail and miscellaneous product-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.