Tokyo stocks close slightly lower ahead of Fed chief testimony

TOKYO, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed slightly lower Wednesday as investors were in a cautious mood ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's congressional testimony to begin later in the day.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 31.67 points, or 0.15 percent, from Tuesday to close the day at 21,533.48.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 3.57 points, or 0.23 percent, to finish at 1,571.32.

Marine transportation, and pulp and paper issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.