Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks opened lower Wednesday due to overnight losses on Wall Street and on the yen's gains against the dollar.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 279.21 points, or 1.98 per cent, to 13,880.88.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 34.58 points, or 2.47 per cent, at 1,365.26.

The US stocks slumped overnight as a rise in crude oil prices and a larger-than-expected increase in US producer prices prompted fears of inflation.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 103.65-70 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 103.80-82 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.5648-53 dollars, up from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 1.5594-98 dollars, and at 162.20-25 yen, up from 161.88-92 yen. (dpa)