Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened modestly lower Thursday following overnight declines in the US market.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dipped 39.16 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 12,983.89.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 7.08 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 1,239.4.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 109.17-22 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 108.76-77 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.4898-4903 dollars, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 1.4936-37 dollars, and at 162.69-74 yen, up from 162.45-49 yen. (dpa)