Tokyo stocks close lower on economic concerns, firm yen

Tokyo stocks closed lower Wednesday, erasing earlier gains to extend the Nikkei stock index's run of closing lows to a seventh straight day, as concerns for the domestic and global economy as well as the yen's rise weighed on sentiment.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 17.46 points, or 0.11 percent, from Tuesday to end the day at a near-two-month low at 15,715.36.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, edged down 0.62 points, or 0.05 percent, to finish at 1,267.75.

Notable decliners at the close of play comprised warehousing and harbor transport services, insurance, fishery, and agriculture and forestry-linked stocks, with the day's turnover totaling 2,114.9 billion yen (19.14 billion U.S. dollars).