Tokyo shares open sharply lower

Tokyo shares opened the trading on Friday sharply lower, triggered by selling of export-oriented issues as the result of the yen's advance versus the US dollar.

At 9.15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 259.52 points, or 1.52 percent, from Thursday to 16,785.47, Xinhua news agency reported.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 20.57 points, or 1.48 percent, to 1,368.24.