Tokyo shares close down on high yen ahead of US data

TOKYO: Tokyo stocks closed lower on Thursday as investors locked in profit as the dollar drifted lower, further damaging sentiment after Wall Street issues fell on worries about higher interest rates.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 1.56 percent or 343.77 points to close at 21,724.47 while the broader Topix index gave up 1.59 percent, or 28.04 points, at 1,740.20.