Tokyo stocks lost ground Thursday morning on the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar and on concerns the U.S. may move to slap higher levies on automobile imports.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 250.20 points, or 1.10 percent, from Wednesday to 22,439.54.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 18.73 points, or 1.04 percent, to 1,778.58.

Transportation equipment, marine transportation, and nonferrous metal-oriented issues comprised those that declined the most by the morning break.