Tokyo stocks ended lower Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index retreating after hitting a fresh intraday high.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 618.06 points, or 0.98 percent, from Wednesday at 62,654.05.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 40.21 points, or 1.03 percent, lower at 3,879.27.

On the top-tier Prime Market, nonferrous metal, real estate and construction issues were notable decliners.

The Nikkei stock index briefly touched a new intraday high of 63,799.32, buoyed by an overnight rally in U.S. technology stocks and buying interest in shares of companies posting strong earnings.

However, the index subsequently slipped into negative territory in afternoon trading as investors took profits following recent gains.

Stocks of companies whose earnings and forecasts fell short of investors' expectations, along with benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures remaining above 100 U.S. dollars per barrel, also weighed on the market.