Tokyo stocks closed lower Thursday, with the benchmark index easing off a nearly 15-year high, as investors took profits and a stronger yen weighed on exporters after the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled it will not hurry to raise interest rates.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 67.92 points, or 0.35 percent, from Wednesday at 19,476.56. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 6.65 points, or 0.42 percent, lower at 1,575.81, according to Japan's (Kyodo) News Agency.
Major decliners included fishery, banking and food issues.