Tokyo stocks edge lower in morning on yen's rise after U.S. gov't shutdown

TOKYO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks fell slightly Monday morning as the yen rose against the U.S. dollar after the U.S. government was forced to partially shut down.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 36.04 points, or 0.15 percent, from Friday to 23,772.02.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, shed 1.97 points, or 0.10 percent, to 1,887.77.

Oil and coal product, iron and steel, and marine transportation-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.