Tokyo stocks closed lower Friday as investors opted for profits as earnings season here swings into gear and ahead of a run of national holidays starting next week.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 55.13 points, or 0.29 percent, from Thursday to end the day at 19,196.74.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, dropped 4.87 points, or 0.32 percent, to finish at 1,531.80.

Bank, securities and real estate issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play, and declining issues outpaced advancing ones by 1,236 to 697 on the First Section.

On the main section on Friday, trading volume came to 1,996.53 million shares, rising from Thursday's volume of 1,970.20 million shares.

The turnover on the final trading day of the totaled 2,546 billion yen (22.88 billion U.S. dollars). Endit

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