Tokyo stocks close lower as earlier gains erased by renewed geopolitical concerns

TOKYO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Friday in choppy trade as initial gains were erased by mounting geopolitical concerns after hostilities related to the Korean Peninsula intensified.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 51.03 points, or 0.25 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 20,296.45.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dropped 4.13 points, or 0.25 percent, to finish at 1,664.61.

Iron and steel, nonferrous metal and chemical-related issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.

The turnover on the last trading day of the week totaled 2,529.6 billion yen (22.62 billion U.S. dollars).