TOKYO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Friday as investors moved to lock in gains from earlier this week.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 174.33 points, or 0.32 percent, from Thursday to 53,936.17. The broader Topix index finished 10.30 points, or 0.28 percent, lower at 3,658.68.
The main decliners were marine transportation, mining and pharmaceutical issues.
Stocks dropped after recent surges, largely driven by growing speculation that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could dissolve the House of Representatives in late January for a snap election.
The U.S. dollar briefly slipped to around the 158 yen line in Tokyo as the yen was bought on wariness over possible yen-buying intervention after Japan's finance minister signaled the government is ready to take "decisive action" to stem the currency's depreciation. ■
