Tokyo stocks open higher, market rattled by prospect of emergency declaration

TOKYO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened moderately higher Monday as the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar helped lift exporters, but reports Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to call a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak rattled the market.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 61.79 points, or 0.35 percent, from Friday to 17,881.98.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 6.39 points, or 0.48 percent, at 1,331.52.

Pharmaceutical, information and communication, and transportation equipment-linked issues comprised those that gained the most in the opening minuets after the morning bell.