Tokyo stocks retreat in morning as yen's rise sends exporters lower

TOKYO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks lost ground Monday morning as the yen's rise against the U.S. dollar impacted exporter issues, while Prime Minster Shinzo Abe being grilled from opposition parties about a favoritism scandal contributed to a circumspect mood.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 172.46 points, or 0.86 percent, from Friday to 19,927.29.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 13.46 points, or 0.83 percent, to 1,616.53.

Insurance, rubber product, and oil and coal product-linked stocks comprised those that declined the most by the morning break.