TOKYO, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened essentially flat on Monday as investors opted not to take bold positions in early trade but to wait and see how the affects of airstrikes on Syria over the weekend would affect currency rates and other major bourses.
As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added up 38.76 points, or 0.18 percent, from Friday to 21,817.50.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 2.45 points, or 0.14 percent, at 1,731.81.
Precision instrument and service issues comprised early gainers, while securities and bank issues led those that retreated the most in the opening minutes after the morning bell.