TOKYO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks retreated from the opening bell on Wednesday as Wall Street's weak lead overnight coupled with falling commodities prices saw investors in a risk adverse mood.
As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 99.96 points, or 0.51 percent, from Tuesday to 19,509.54.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 8.48 points, or 0.54 percent, to 1,566.42.
Issues that notably lost ground early on comprised mining, iron and steel, and electric power and gas-linked stocks.