Japan's Topix stock index hit a new 25-year low on Friday, with the Nikkei also nears a 26-year low on renewed economic woes.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 141.27 points, or 1.87 percent, from Thursday to 7,416.38, its lowest finish since Oct. 27 when the Nikkei plunged to a 26-year low.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 12.06 points, or 1.60 percent, to 739.53, marking its lowest close since Jan. 5, 1984, when it closed at 737.39.

Mining and resource-related shares are the notable gainers, with value leader Sumitomo Metal Mining climbing 45 yen, nearly 5 percent, to 1,024 yen.

Volume leader Mizuho Financial Group fell 8 yen, over 4 percent, to 188 yen while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 10 yen, over 2 percent, to 429 yen.

On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancing ones 1,269 to 344, with 103 others finishing unchanged.

Trading volume on the main section came to 1,893.93 million shares, compared with Thursday's 1,860.12 million shares.

The TSE's Second Section index lost 14.18 points, 0.78 percent, to 1,810.71 on a volume of 28.79 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term March Nikkei 225 index futures contract was down 190 points to 7,380.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2009)