Tokyo stocks advance in morning as yen's retreat lifts exporters

TOKYO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Monday morning after Wall Street's gains late last week set a positive tone, with the market mood also buoyed by the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar which lifted exporter issues.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 179.43 points, or 0.83 percent, from Friday to 21,782.12.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 7.18 points, or 0.44 percent, at 1,622.90.

Precision instrument, oil and coal product, and machinery-linked issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break.