[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks closed down sharply on Friday, as a stronger yen dented exporters and another fall in oil prices hammered commodity and energy shares.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 1.42 per cent, or 229.63 points, to close at 15,967.17, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares dropped 1.48 per cent, or 19.38 points, to 1,291.82.

AFP