TOKYO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower on Thursday, weighed down by rising oil futures as the International Energy Agency's decision to conduct its largest-ever oil stock release failed to ease investors' oil supply concerns.
The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 572.41 points, or 1.04 percent, from Wednesday at 54,452.96.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 49.00 points, or 1.32 percent, lower at 3,649.85.
The impact of the stockpile release is not seen as a fundamental solution to the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, fueling expectations that market disruptions from the Middle East conflict will be prolonged, analysts said. ■