Tokyo: Japanese share prices fell 1.75% by the close on Tuesday, hit by a stronger yen and political uncertainty following Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s abrupt resignation, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index fell 224.71 points to end at 12,609.47. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares declined 18.27 points or 1.48% to 1,212.37.
Fukuda’s surprise announcement late on Monday came after the 72-year-old political moderate failed to reverse a slump in his popularity despite reshuffling his cabinet and unveiling a major economic stimulus package.