TOKYO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Tuesday as the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar pressured exporter issues and the broader market, while overseas investors took a cautious stance amid concerns over protectionism and political uncertainty here.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 65.71 points, or 0.34 percent, from Friday to close the day at 19,455.88.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, finished 2.43 points, or 0.16 percent, lower at 1,563.42.
Local brokers said that the market took a cautious stance after Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers dialed back on a commitment against protectionism at their meeting last week in Germany.
Traders here also said that international investors were avoiding bold moves in view of the yen's strength, as well as a cut-price land scandal that has implicated senior politicians here including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Issues that lost the most ground by the close of play comprised securities, nonferrous metal and insurance-linked stocks and advancing issues outpaced declining ones by 991 to 862.
Trading volume on the main section dropped to 1,597.18 million shares from Friday's volume of 2,013.61 million.
The day's turnover totaled 2,039 billion yen (18.09 billion U.S. dollars).
Markets here were closed Monday for a national holiday.
