Tokyo stocks end lower on concern over economic slowdown amid Mideast conflict

TOKYO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower on Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index briefly losing over 2 percent in the morning, pressured by concern over an economic slowdown fueled by inflation as crude oil prices surged.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 633.35 points, or 1.16 percent, from Thursday at 53,819.61.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 20.82 points, or 0.57 percent, lower at 3,629.03.

On the top-tier Prime Market, the main decliners were transportation equipment, air transportation and rubber product issues.

Stocks were sold on rising concern over the Middle East conflict after Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday called for the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and pledged to open new fronts amid current attacks on his country by the United States and Israel.

Export-oriented shares dropped widely amid fears that difficulties in securing crude oil and petroleum products would hurt corporate earnings and the country's economy, analysts said. Enditem