Tokyo: Stocks defy Asia rally after Fed holds fire

[TOKYO] Tokyo shares retreated almost two per cent Friday, defying a rally across Asian stocks, as the yen strengthened against the dollar after the US Federal Reserve held fire on raising interest rates.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped 1.96 per cent, or 362.06 points, to close at 18,070.21, while the broader Topic index of all first-section shares was down 1.98 per cent, or 29.53 points, at 1,462.38.

AFP