File photo: AP

TOKYO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Wednesday, following U.S. shares giving up gains in late trade overnight as benchmark U.S. crude oil tumbled erasing gains in shares of major oil producers.

As of 9:15 a.m. here, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 73.95 points, or 0.39 percent, from Tuesday to 18,876.23.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dropped 1.37 points, or 0.10 percent, at 1,401.84.

Mining, iron and steel, and real estate-oriented issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.