Tokyo stocks retreat in morning as firm yen weighs on exporters

TOKYO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks lost ground Wednesday morning as the yen's strength against the U.S. dollar weighed on export-related issues.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 135.07 points, or 0.56 percent, from Tuesday to 23,989.08.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 7.57 points, or 0.40 percent, to 1,903.50.

Electric appliance, bank and machinery-oriented issues comprised those that led decliners by the morning break.