TOKYO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday as weaker-than-expected US retail sales data for April released overnight saw the market mood soured.

(File Photo: VCG)

As of 9:15 am, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 118.16 points, or 0.56 percent, from Wednesday to 21,070.40.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 7.07 points, or 0.46 percent, at 1,537.08.

Iron and steel, bank and securities house-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.