Tokyo stocks took a downturn Thursday on the back of the yen's appreciation and overseas market falls. The 225-issue Nikkei average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange shed 156.16 points, or 0.67 percent, to close at 23,319.37, after rising 20.64 points Wednesday. The Topix index of all first section issues closed down 5.95 points, or 0.36 percent, at 1,638.40, following a 3.51-point rise the previous day. The market got off to a weaker start and plunged deeper in the morning, with sentiment chilled by the yen's strengthening against the dollar and a drop in the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures in off-hours trading, brokers said. Bearish performances of Chinese and other Asian shares also weighed on Tokyo stocks throughout the afternoon session, they added.

Stocks turned lower on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Friday, pressured by selling on a rally after the recent sharp advance. The 225-issue Nikkei average lost 63.02 points, or 0.37 percent, to end at 16,848.03. On Thursday, the key market gauge jumped 529.83 points to a two-week high. The Topix index of all first-section issues finished down 9.95 points, or 0.73 percent, at 1,361.40, after advancing 38.91 points the previous day. Tokyo stocks got off to a weaker start after the Nikkei average shot up more than 1,100 points, or over 7 percent, during the previous three days.