Tokyo stocks close down on unimpressive machinery orders data, firm yen

Tokyo stocks closed lower Thursday as weaker-than-expected machinery orders data and the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar saw investors offload issues.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 162.51 points, or 0.97 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 16,668.41.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 13.56 points, or 1.00 percent, to end at 1,337.41.

Notable decliners by the close of play comprised banking, insurance and air transportation-linked stocks.

The day's turnover was 1,785.3 billion (16.72 billion dollars). Endit