Tokyo's Nikkei index closes lower for fourth straight day

TOKYO: Tokyo's bellwether Nikkei stock index fell for the fourth consecutive session on Friday as fresh doubts about US tax cut plans outweighed a robust business confidence survey.

The Nikkei 225 index lost 0.62 percent, or 141.23 points, to close at 22,553.22 while the broader Topix index was down 0.81 percent, or 14.67 points, at 1,793.47.