TOKYO, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower Friday as investor sentiment was dented by the Dow Jones Industrial Average's overnight slide and the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 274.73 points, or 1.30 percent, from Thursday to 20,864.98.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 19.34 points, or 1.22 percent, to 1,570.47.

Insurance, nonferrous metal and rubber product-linked issues comprised those that declined the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.