Tokyo stocks close lower as yen's strength dents exporters

TOKYO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Friday as the yen's strength against the U.S. dollar weighed on exporter issues and prompted investors to secure profits, although losses were trimmed by a rise in large-cap issues.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 56.61 points, or 0.24 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 23,653.82.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dropped 11.85 points, or 0.63 percent, to finish at 1,876.24.

Electric power and gas, information and communication, and precision instrument-linked issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.