Tokyo stocks fall further over U.S. rate hike fears

TOKYO, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower for the fourth consecutive day on Friday as fears of further U.S. rate hikes strengthened ahead of the employment data release.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 384.6 points, or 1.17 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 32,388.42.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, lost 22.18 points, or 0.97 percent,