TOKYO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Monday as a cronyism and document-tampering scandal implicating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe caused political uncertainty and a slump in his cabinet's approval rating in recent polls.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 195.61 points, or 0.90 percent, from Friday to close the day at 21,480.90, marking its lowest close since March 9.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 16.66 points, or 0.96 percent, to finish at 1,719.97.
Precision instrument, securities and electric appliance-linked issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.