Tokyo stocks ended lower Friday, as caution about recent sharp rises prompted investors to lock in gains across broader sectors, with tech issues posting steep losses following the overnight fall of a key U.S. semiconductor index.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 485.40 points, or 1.34 percent, from Thursday at 35,751.07. The broader Topix index finished 34.27 points, or 1.35 percent, lower at 2,497.65.
Every industry category on the top-tier Prime Market lost ground except for rubber product issues. Decliners were led by marine transportation, bank and electric appliance issues.
The U.S. dollar moved little in the upper 147 yen range in Tokyo trading amid a lack of new incentives, dealers said.
The Nikkei index finished below the support line of 36,000 for the first time in a week, amid lingering concern that the Tokyo stock market was overheating, after both key indexes ended at 34-year highs earlier this week.
The U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting next week also left investors nervous, with "market participants cautious about whether the bank will strongly signal a rate cut in March," said Koichi Fujishiro, senior economist at the Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.
