TOKYO, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks continued their losing trend for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, with initial gains offset due to growing fears over energy prices.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed down 73.42 points, or 0.30 percent, from Tuesday at 24,717.53, logging the lowest level since Nov. 6, 2020.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended 0.97 points, or 0.06 percent, lower at 1,758.89.

Decliners were led by electric power and gas, marine transportation, and precision instrument issues.

The market gained nearly 300 points at one stage in early trading before brokers sold on increased pressure toward the close of the trading day on bleaker outlook for energy prices.

Solid investor appetite for depreciated stocks after the Nikkei index plunged more than 6 percent to a 16-month low in the past three trading days initially boosted the market.

"Stocks had been oversold over the past few days so investors hunted for bargains amid a lack of fresh trading cues," said Koichi Fujishiro, a senior economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancing ones 1,209 to 886, while 85 finished the day unchanged.

Kikkoman dipped 6.7 percent on concerns that soaring soy and wheat prices could raise production costs at the soy sauce maker.

Exporters were boosted after the yen weakened slightly overnight against the U.S. dollar. Honda Motor gained 0.8 percent, while Mitsubishi Motors grew 1.2 percent, and Mazda Motor increased 1.7 percent.

Trading volume on the main section decreased to 1,500.51 million shares from Tuesday's 1,873.40 million shares. Enditem

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