Tokyo stocks fell Wednesday, with the Nikkei index closing at the lowest level in three weeks, as weaker-than-expected business confidence among big manufacturers in a Bank of Japan survey dealt a blow to investor sentiment.
On the first day of fiscal 2015, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 172.15 points, or 0.90 percent, from Tuesday at 19,034.84. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 14.12 points, or 0.92 percent, lower at 1,528.99, according to Japan's (Kyodo) News Agency.
Major decliners included glass and ceramics, nonferrous metal and pharmaceutical issues.