TOKYO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower on Monday alongside the yen and government bonds as persistent high crude oil prices deepened inflation fears.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 593.34 points, or 0.97 percent, from Friday at 60,815.95.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 37.46 points, or 0.97 percent, lower at 3,826.51.

On the top-tier Prime Market, transportation equipment, textile and apparel, and wholesale trade issues were the main decliners.

The decline tracked losses on Wall Street late last week, where equities retreated from recent highs as the benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures held stubbornly above 100 U.S. dollars per barrel amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Inflation concerns, which sent Japanese government bond yields higher, also weighed on investor sentiment amid a global bond sell-off.

Heavyweight technology shares were not spared, with rising bond yields triggering selling in a sector that had already drawn overheating warnings after a run of sharp gains. ■