Tokyo stocks end lower on U.S. rate cut expectations

TOKYO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower on Tuesday, with the benchmark Nikkei briefly sliding more than 2 percent, as the yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar amid expectations of a larger interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve this week.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 378.54 points, or 1.03 percent, from Friday at 36,203.22. Japanese