TOKYO, Feb 24 ― Tokyo stocks opened lower today, extending falls on Wall Street, with investors avoiding risks as tensions between Russia and Ukraine mount.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.61 per cent or 160.42 points to 26,289.19 at the open, while the broader Topix index was down 0.53 per cent or 9.91 points to 1,871.17.

"The sell-off is likely to be driven by tensions in Ukraine and fears over the spread of the Omicron sub-variant,” Mizuho Securities said in a note.

On Wall Street yesterday, major indices dropped for the fourth straight session, reflecting unease at the deteriorating outlook in Ukraine.

Ukraine's parliament has imposed a national state of emergency aimed at helping to forge a response to the threat of a full-scale Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Russia could start "a major war in Europe” in the coming days and urged Russians to oppose the attack.

The dollar fetched ¥114.91 (RM4.18) in early Asian trade, against ¥114.96 in New York yesterday.

In Tokyo trading, Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing lost 0.71 per cent to ¥62,910 while SoftBank Group dropped 2.23 per cent to ¥5,039.

Automakers were lower with Toyota falling 0.49 per cent to ¥2,113, Honda sliding 0.27 per cent to ¥3,574 and Nissan dipping 0.23 per cent to ¥560.8.

Sony Group advanced 0.82 per cent to ¥11,670. ― AFP