Tokyo stocks hit 4.5-month low on dollar's drop

Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower on early Thursday morning, with its benchmark Nikkei stocks index hitting a 4.5-month low on the dollar's depreciation in New York overnight.

At 9:15 a.m. local time, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunged 376.56 points, or 2.50 percent, from Wednesday to 14,696. 96, briefly falling to 14,683.52, its lowest level since May 30.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange shed 30.28 points, or 2.47 percent, at 1,193. 39.

Major decliners included automaker, insurance and precision instrument issues.