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Tokyo stocks close lower tracking falls on Asian bourses
TOKYO, Oct 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Tokyo stocks closed lower on Thursday with
the market weighed down by profit-taking and worsening sentiment on falls in
Chinese shares.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.80 percent or 182.96 points to
22,658.16 at the close, while the the broader Topix index ended down 0.54
percent or 9.23 points at 1,704.64.
The dollar fetched 112.50 yen in early Asian trade against 112.59 yen in
New York.
“Investors are swinging between joy and sorrow watching the Chinese market
and the currency” rate of the yen against the dollar, Okasan Online
Securities chief strategist Yoshihiro Ito said in a commentary.
After opening in positive territory, the Nikkei index dipped due to
profit-taking before rebounding slightly, he noted.
China-linked shares were lower partly because of worries over the
country’s economic slowdown, analysts said, with industrial robot maker Fanuc
dropping 4.07 percent to 19,175 yen and construction machine maker Komatsu
losing 2.90 percent to 3,173 yen.
Game giant Nintendo was down 0.32 percent at 39,640 yen while market
heavyweight and Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing closed down 1.41
percent at 55,830 yen.
BSS/AFP/HR/1328