Tokyo stocks were further undermined Friday, extending their losing streak to four days, after oil prices rose to record highs and the Bank of Japan decided to raise its key interest rates for the first time in more than five years.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 252.71 points, or 1.67 percent, to 14,845.24, closing below the key 15,000 line for the first time since June 28.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange shed 29.32 points, or 1.89 percent, to 1,521. 71.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones 1,490 to 163, with 43 shares ending the day unchanged.

Mizuho Financial Group was the most heavily traded issue by value. It fell 22,000 yen to 961,000 yen.

Nippon Steel was the day's volume leader, down 12 yen to 443 yen.

Trading volume on the TSE's main section decreased to 1,659.13 million shares from Thursday's 1,734.27 million shares.

The TSE's Second Section index fell 52.52 points, or 1.24 percent, to 4,185.56 on a volume of 46.95 million shares. In Osaka, the near-term June Nikkei 225 index futures contract fell 270 points to 14,790.

Source: Xinhua