Tokyo stocks open lower on profit taking after Nikkei's near 26-year closing high

TOKYO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Wednesday as investors opted to secure profits after stocks surged a day earlier leading the Nikkei to close at a near 26-year high.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 72.21 points, or 0.31 percent, from Tuesday to 22,865.39.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 3.47 points, or 0.19 percent, to 1,809.82.

Insurance, bank, and oil and coal product-oriented stocks comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.