Tokyo: Stocks close lower as strong yen hits automakers

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks closed lower Monday as a strong yen dented Japan's major automakers, while Toshiba dropped on a report that its troubled US nuclear unit could start bankruptcy proceedings this week.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 1.44 per cent, or 276.94 points, to 18,985.59, while the Topix index of all first-section issues was down 1.26 per cent, or 19.53 points, to end the day at 1,524.39.

AFP