TOKYO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower on Tuesday after surrendering early advances, as investors locked in gains and real estate issues met selling amid rising Japanese long-term interest rates.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 122.75 points, or 0.31 percent, from Monday at 38,946.93.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 8.32 points, or 0.30 percent, lower at 2,759.72.
Stocks started the day higher, supported by technology issues tracking gains by their U.S. counterparts, but gains were erased as a continued rise in Japanese government bond yields prompted selling of real estate issues on concerns over higher borrowing costs, analysts said.
On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by real estate, consumer credit and precision instrument issues. ■