Tokyo stocks retreat as investors take profits, weak yen adds support

Tokyo stocks edged lower Friday morning as investors opted to take profits following the market's recent run of gains, but broader losses were capped by a comparatively weak yen versus the U.S. dollars.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 56.68 points, or 0.34 percent, from Thursday to 16,854.37.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dropped 9.39 points, or 0.68 percent, to 1,361.96.

The markets were not adversely affected by the overnight quakes in Japan's southwest, brokers said.

Notable decliners by the morning break comprised electric appliances, banking, and textile-linked issues.