Tokyo stocks close lower on ex-dividend selling

Tokyo, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed Lower Wednesday as investors sold shares of companies after securing the rights to fiscal 2018 second-half dividend payouts a day earlier.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 49.66 points, or 0.23 percent, from Tuesday to close the day at 21,378,73.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 8.45 points, or 0.52 percent, Lower to finish at 1,609.49.

Electric power and gas, wholesale trade and bank-linked issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.