Tokyo stocks retreat in morning on profit-talking

TOKYO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks retreated Tuesday morning erasing earlier gains, as investors opted to secure profits ahead of testimony from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell later in the day.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 42.94 points, or 0.20 percent, from Monday to 21,485.29.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 4.39 points, or 0.27 percent, at 1,616.48.

Mining, oil and coal product, and insurance-oriented issues comprised those that declined the most by the morning break.