Muscat: indexes closed mixed at the end of trading on Tuesday: Japanese stock indexes showcased a mixed performance by the close of trading, reflecting varied investor sentiment across different sectors.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Nikkei index experienced a decline of 0.44 percent, closing at 60,550.59 points. This fall extended its losing streak to a fourth consecutive session, despite the index having risen by more than 1 percent earlier in the day. In contrast, the broader Topix index saw an increase of 0.63 percent, concluding the session at 3,850.67 points.
The decline in the Nikkei was largely influenced by a drop in shares of key technology companies. Tokyo Electron, a leading chip-making equipment manufacturer, saw its shares fall by 4.26 percent. Similarly, chip-testing equipment maker Advantest's shares declined by 3.29 percent, while technology investor SoftBank Group decreased by 4.15 percent. Memory-chip maker Kioxia also experienced a decline, with its shares dropping 3.27 percent.
Additionally, shares of fiber-optic cable manufacturers were under pressure. Fujikura's shares plunged by 16.95 percent, and Furukawa Electric's shares fell by 8.37 percent, further impacting the Nikkei index's performance.
On the other hand, the banking sector exhibited strength, contributing to the Topix index's rise. Shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group rose by 3.77 percent, and Mizuho Financial Group saw a gain of 5.53 percent, reflecting positive investor sentiment in the financial sector.
Overall, among the more than 1,600 shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, 71 percent recorded gains, 27 percent saw declines, and 1 percent remained unchanged, illustrating a broadly positive market trend despite the mixed index results.