Tokyo stocks open lower following U.S., European routs on coronavirus spread

TOKYO, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Friday following selloffs on Wall Street and European markets overnight on concerns of the global spread of the coronavirus.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 311.76 points, or 1.46 percent, from Thursday to 21,017.36.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 25.25 points, or 1.67 percent, to 1,490.46.

Mining, iron and steel, and securities house-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.