Asian Markets Update: Tech Shares Head Lower After Nasdaq Slide
TOKYO -- Asian stock markets ended mixed Thursday, as the
undecided U.S. presidential election continued to keep investors on the sidelines. Technology shares throughout the region were lower, however, after the
Nasdaq
tanked Wednesday.
In Tokyo, the
Nikkei 225
closed down 339.6 points, or 2.2%, at 15,060.1 and the
Topix
index, which includes all shares listed on the
Tokyo Stock Exchange
, fell 26.2, or 1.8%, to close at 1427.5.
Japanese technology shares from electronics giants to chipmakers were lower, as
Sony
(SNE) - Get Report
fell 170 yen, or 1.8%, to 9,060 ($84.42);
NEC
(NIPNY)
closed off 50 yen, or 2.1%, at 2,290; and
Fujitsu
(FJTSY)
tanked 110 yen, or 5.1%, to 2,050.
Telcos were also lower, as wireless operator
NTT DoCoMo
(NTDMY)
fell 90,000 yen, or 2.9%, to 2.99 million and
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone
(NTT)
closed down 24,000 yen, or 2.5%, at 955,000.
The dollar traded at 107.32 yen, up from 107.04 yen Wednesday.
Hong Kong's
Hang Seng
index also ended in the red, falling 149.3, or 1%, to 15,504.8.
China Mobile
(CHL) - Get Report
fell HK$1.75, or 3.3%, to 50.75 ($6.51) after its rating was downgraded to a sell by
Credit Suisse First Boston
.
Elsewhere, South Korea's
Kospi
index rose 2.6, or 0.5%, to 560.7, as financial shares led the broader market higher and Taiwan's
TWSE
index squeaked 21.6 points higher, or 0.4%, to 6089.6, as heavyweight
Taiwan Semiconductor
(TSM) - Get Report
capped gains by falling 1.7% to TWD$115.00 ($3.58).
