TOKYO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower on Thursday, as investors took profits after recent gains in heavyweight technology shares and renewed uncertainty over the Middle East conflict weighed on sentiment.
The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 306.29 points, or 0.47 percent, from Wednesday at 64,693.12.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 16.00 points, or 0.41 percent, lower at 3,902.01.
On the top-tier Prime Market, nonferrous metals, insurance, and electric power and gas issues were notable decliners.
Stocks opened lower as the recent rally ran out of steam, amid a lack of fresh catalysts for artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares, analysts said.
Losses deepened at one point in the afternoon after optimism about a settlement in the Middle East conflict waned following reports of fresh overnight U.S. military strikes on Iran. ■
