Asian Markets Update: Tokyo Slides Into Long Weekend

TOKYO -- Asian equity markets ended Thursday mixed, as Taipei and Seoul booked gains and Tokyo finished in negative territory ahead of a three-day weekend.

Japanese investors remained on the sidelines, not wanting to stir things up too much before markets close Friday for a holiday. The Nikkei 225 closed down 34.6 points, or 0.2%, at 14,837.8, but the Topix index, which includes all shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, rose 6.1, or 0.4%, to 1424.5.

Video-game maker Sega (SEGNY Quote) tanked 775 yen, or 6.5%, to 775 ($7.16), after announcing it would shift focus to software from its troubled hardware operations. Rival Sony (SNE Quote) fell 260 yen, or 2.8%, to 8,990.

Telcos had a mixed day, with Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT Quote) closing down 10,000 yen, or 1%, to 1.01 million and wireless operator NTT DoCoMo (NTDMY Quote) ending up 40,000 yen, or 1.4%, at 2.96 million.

The dollar traded at 108.23 yen, down from 109.16 yen Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 57.5, or 0.4%, to close at 15,291.5, as China Mobile (CHL Quote) fell HK$0.90, or 1.8%, to 49.60 ($6.36) and Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCW Quote) dropped HK$0.25, or 4.2%, to 5.75.

On the positive side, South Korea's Kospi index rose 9.3, or 1.7%, to 558.1, as tech and telecom shares performed well. Taiwan's TWSE index also rose, surging 201.1, or 3.7%, to 5626.1, after getting hammered in recent days.