Tokyo stocks open sharply lower as U.S. jobs data misses expectations

TOKYO, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower Thursday as investor sentiment was dented by U.S. payroll data for September released overnight.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 382.06 points, or 1.75 percent, from Wednesday to 21,396.55.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 26.93 points, or 1.69 percent, at 1,569.36.

While all industrial categories retreated into negative territory, mining, farm and fishery, and pulp and paper issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.