TOKYO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Tuesday as the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar dented investor sentiment on the back of U.S. consumer price and retail sales data for June coming in below expectations last week.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 118.95 points, or 0.59 percent, from Friday to close the day at 19,999.91, dropping below the 20,000 line and marking the index's lowest close since July 7.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dropped 5.00 points, or 0.31 percent, to finish at 1,620.48.
Local traders said in addition to the latest economic data in the U.S. coming in below par, investors were in a circumspect mood on concerns interest rates in the U.S. may not rise as quickly as market expectations.
Real estate, bank and transportation equipment-linked issues comprised the day's notable decliners, and stocks that retreated outpaced those that advanced by 1,064 to 793 on the First section.
On the main section 1,817.25 million shares changed hands, dropping from Friday's volume of 2,043.29 million.
The turnover on Tuesday totaled 2,112.0 billion yen (18.83 billion U.S. dollars).
Markets here were closed on Monday for a national holiday.
