An elderly man wearing a protective mask crosses a street in Tokyo. (File photo: AFP)

TOKYO, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday on concerns for the prospects of the U.S. economy after retail sales and industrial output data plummeted in March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 267.14 points, or 1.37 percent, from Wednesday to 19,282.95.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 17.79 points, or 1.24 percent, at 1,416.28.

Nonferrous metal, transportation equipment and real estate issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.