Tokyo stocks fell Friday morning, weighed down by a decline of tech issues following the overnight drop of a key U.S. semiconductor index.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 401.40 points, or 1.11 percent, from Thursday to 35,835.07. The broader Topix index was down 24.27 points, or 0.96 percent, at 2,507.65.
The U.S. dollar moved little in the upper 147 yen range in Tokyo amid a lack of major trading incentives, dealers said.
At noon, the dollar fetched 147.63-66 yen compared with 147.60-70 yen in New York and 147.67-69 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0843-0847 and 160.08-17 yen against $1.0841-0851 and 160.11-21 yen in New York and $1.0887-0888 and 160.77-81 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.
Stocks were lower from the outset, sending the benchmark Nikkei below the 36,000 line, amid concern that the market was overheating after both key indexes hit 34-year highs earlier this week, analysts said.
"The market was also pressured by caution ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting next week as well as the release of earnings reports by major U.S. and Japanese companies," said Maki Sawada, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
