TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks dropped Thursday as a stronger yen prompted selling of exporter shares and investors locked in gains after two straight days of advances.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 174.92 points, or 0.44 percent, from Wednesday at 39,646.36. The broader Topix index finished 15.82 points, or 0.56 percent, lower at 2,812.34.

On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by electric power and gas, oil and coal product and marine transportation issues.

The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to the upper 145 yen range in Tokyo as U.S. Treasury yields fell after President Donald Trump again called on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, arguing the current benchmark rate is too high, dealers said.

Stocks were weighed down by export-oriented auto and electronics issues due to a firmer yen, which decreases overseas profits of exporters when repatriated.

Investors also sold shares as the Nikkei index climbed close to the 40,000 line over the past two days after Trump announced to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Japan, while setting an extended negotiation deadline of Aug. 1.

"The market was pressured by shares that had advanced notably as the Nikkei approached the 40,000 mark, rather than by selling on concern about U.S. tariff policy," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.