Tokyo stocks were mixed Thursday morning as advances led by technology issues were offset by some investors locking in gains following the recent strong performance of the Japanese market.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 64.47 points, or 0.18 percent, from Wednesday to 36,162.01. The broader Topix index was up 0.30 points, or 0.01 percent, at 2,529.52.
The U.S. dollar firmed in the upper 147 yen range as Japanese importers bought it for settlement purposes, dealers said.
At noon, the dollar fetched 147.70-73 yen compared with 147.45-55 yen in New York and 147.78-80 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0876-0880 and 160.64-73 yen against $1.0880-0890 and 160.58-68 yen in New York and $1.0873-0874 and 160.69-73 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.
Stocks fluctuated between positive and negative territory in the morning, with the Nikkei briefly slipping below the 36,000 mark.
The overnight advance of a key U.S. semiconductor index encouraged buying of tech issues, but market sentiment was hurt after the U.S. Dow Jones index closed lower Wednesday.
"The Nikkei remains under selling pressure as it hovers around the 36,000 threshold" with market participants locking in gains amid lingering concern about an overheated market, said Masahiro Yamaguchi, head of investment research at SMBC Trust Bank.
