TOKYO, Nov 18, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Tokyo stocks opened lower on Thursday with
investors disheartened by Wall Street falls on profit-taking and their focus
shifting to the expected announcement this week of new stimulus in Japan.

   The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 0.29 percent or 85.12 points at
29,603.21 in early trade, while the broader Topix index lost 0.23 percent or
4.65 points to 2,033.69.

   The Japanese market is "dominated by sell orders as investors disliked
falls in US shares," senior strategist Yoshihiro Ito of Okasan Online
Securities said in a note.

   The dollar fetched 104.17 yen in early Asian trade, against 104.09 yen in
New York late Wednesday.

   In Tokyo, Eisai dropped 6.14 percent to 7,603 yen tracking its US partner
Biogen's falls as European regulators signalled doubt over approval of the
firms' Alzheimer's drug.

   Shipping firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines dropped 4.37 percent to 6,130 yen and
its rival Nippon Yusen dipped 5.40 percent to 7,180 yen.

   Automakers were mixed, with Toyota trading up 0.33 percent at 2,135 yen
and Nissan up 0.63 percent at 633.3 yen but Honda down 0.96 percent at 3,230
yen.