Tokyo stocks were mixed Wednesday morning, as selling of technology issues that tracked losses in their U.S. counterparts was offset by buying of Japanese firms that reported robust earnings the previous day.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 188.90 points, or 0.52 percent, from Tuesday to 35,876.96. The broader Topix index was up 0.31 point, or 0.01 percent, at 2,527.24.
The U.S. dollar was almost flat in the upper 147 yen range in Tokyo as traders refrained from making big moves ahead of the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting later in the day.
At noon, the dollar fetched 147.68-69 yen compared with 147.56-66 yen in New York and 147.23-25 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0816-0820 and 159.73-80 yen against $1.0840-0850 and 160.02-12 yen in New York, and $1.0822-0823 and 159.34-38 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
The stock market was weighed down by selling in semiconductor and tech shares that tracked falls in U.S. stock futures after earnings from technology giants Alphabet Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. fell below expectations, analysts said.
But the market's downside was supported by robust earnings released Tuesday by Japanese firms, including Canon Inc. and Komatsu Ltd., with the Topix index fluctuating between negative and positive territory throughout the morning.
"If earnings to be released later in the day are also well-received, we may see the Nikkei pare its losses," said Maki Sawada, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
