Tokyo stocks open higher on yens soft tone, exporters advance

TOKYO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened marginally higher Tuesday as a comparatively soft yen against the U.S. dollar bolstered investor sentiment and gave exporter issues a boost.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 42.66 points, or 0.19 percent, from Friday to 22,640.01.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 5.71 points, or 0.33 percent, at 1,735.78.

Rubber product, transportation equipment and food-linked issues comprised those that gained the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.

Markets here were closed on Monday for a national holiday.