Tokyo stocks inched lower Wednesday morning as the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar hit some exporter-linked issues, although the market was balanced out by companies reporting favorable earnings.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average edged down 0.60 point from Tuesday at 19,040.74.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, shed 4.00 points, or 0.26 percent, at 1,517.67.

Notable issues that lost ground by the morning break comprised bank and transportation equipment issues.

In contrast, nonferrous metal, electronic parts, electric power and gas issues comprised major advancers by the break.

At the halfway point, declining issues outpaced advancing ones by 1,102 to 763.

source: Xinhua