TOKYO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan's stock market retreated on Wednesday as market sentiment was weighed down by hawkish comments from a Bank of Japan (BOJ) board member, which fueled expectations of further monetary tightening and strengthened the yen.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, closed at 39,164.61, down 105.79 points, or 0.27 percent from the previous day.

At one point during the morning session, the Nikkei dropped nearly 300 points, briefly falling below the key psychological level of 39,000. However, dip-buying emerged in the afternoon, limiting the decline.

BOJ board member Hajime Takata stated in a speech that the BOJ could shift gears further if corporate investment and wage growth continued positively.

His comments triggered broad-based selling, pushing the yen to the upper 151 range against the U.S. dollar, which further pressured stocks.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) also declined, closing 8.26 points, or 0.3 percent lower at 2,767.25.

On the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, 994 stocks declined, 596 advanced, and 50 remained unchanged. Enditem

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