Tokyo stocks fell Wednesday morning, led by the selling of technology shares that tracked declines of their U.S. counterparts overnight.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 174.76 points, or 0.46 percent, from Tuesday to 38,188.85. The broader Topix index was down 11.85 points, or 0.45 percent, at 2,620.45.
The U.S. dollar remained weak around the 150 yen line, pressured by an overnight fall of long-term U.S. Treasury yields that raised expectations of a narrowing of the interest rate differential between the United States and Japan.
At noon, the dollar fetched 149.93-96 yen compared with 149.95-150.05 yen in New York and 150.35-37 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0815-0816 and 162.15-20 yen against $1.0803-0813 and 162.08-18 yen in New York and $1.0770-0771 and 161.93-97 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
Technology shares led declines among Tokyo stocks, while investors continued to lock in gains after the key indexes recently hit 34-year highs.
The market also adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of an earnings report from U.S. chip giant Nvidia Corp. and the minutes of the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting, both due out later in the day, analysts said.
