TOKYO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower on Tuesday tracking the weak performance of high-tech related shares in the overnight Wall Street market.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 22.98 points, or 0.06 percent, from Monday to close the day at 38,797.51, the lowest level since Feb. 21.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 9.59 points, or 0.36 percent, lower at 2,657.24.
Market watchers here noted that shares of some tech heavyweights were sold in the Tokyo market following the previous day's weakness in high-tech stocks in the U.S. stock market.
The depreciation of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar in the forex market led to buying on dips, especially in export-related stocks.
On the Prime Market, decliners were led by bank, insurance and wholesale product issues.
Issues that gained outpaced those that declined by 1,079 to 529, while 48 ended the day unchanged. ■