Tokyo stocks end lower on BOJ policy shift speculation

TOKYO, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower on Thursday after giving up earlier gains, amid growing speculation that the Japanese central bank may end its negative interest rate policy as soon as this month.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 492.07 points, or 1.23 percent, from Wednesday at 39,598.71, after hitting a record high of 40,472.11 in early tra