Tokyo stocks close lower on profit-taking ahead of Fed meeting

Tokyo, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed slightly lower Tuesday as investors opted to secure profits made following the Nikkei's recent rise ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 17.65 points, or 0.08 percent, from Monday to close the day at 21,566.85.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 3.45 points, or 0.21 percent, to finish at 1,610.23.

Retail, electric power and gas, and miscellaneous product-linked issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.