Tokyo stocks open sharply lower after U.S. shares retreat

TOKYO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower Wednesday following U.S. shares retreating overnight on continued concerns over the future course of the global economy.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 295.82 points, or 1.39 percent, from Tuesday to 20,964.32.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 21.65 points, or 1.40 percent, at 1,529.34.

All industry categories retreated into negative territory, with insurance, security house, and electric power and gas-linked issues comprising those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.