Tokyo stocks retreat in early trading due to lack of incentives

Tokyo stocks retreated in early trading Tuesday as a lack of fresh buying incentives prompted investors to take profits made on gains locked in last week.

As of 9:15 a.m. local time, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 25.80 points, or 0.13 percent, from last Friday to 19,854.01, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell down 4.39 points, or 0.27 percent, to 1,598.79. Markets here were closed on Monday for a national holiday.

Notable early decliners comprised insurance, banking and nonferrous metals-related stocks. Endit