Tokyo stocks retreat in morning on investor concerns over recent quake, typhoon damage

TOKYO, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks lost ground Thursday morning as investor sentiment was dented by the potential economic costs associated with the damage caused but a powerful overnight earthquake that struck Hokkaido and a strong typhoon that pummeled western Japan recently.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 52.37 points, or 0.23 percent, from Wednesday to 22,528.46.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 8.76 points, or 0.51 percent, at 1,696.20.

Miscellaneous product, precision instrument and consumer credit-oriented issues comprised those that declined the most by the morning break.