Tokyo stocks open lower as hopes for Fed rate cut lowered

TOKYO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Monday tracking declines on Wall Street, as investor sentiment was dampened by lowering hopes for a rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve after key jobs data beat median market expectations.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 139.61 points, or 0.64 percent, from Friday to 21,606.77.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 5.96 points, or 0.37 percent, at 1,586.62.

Pharmaceutical, farm and fishery, and machinery-linked issues comprised those that lost the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.