Semiconductors lower in Tokyo

The main Tokyo equities markets were lower on Thursday, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.6 percent to 16,551.36 and the Topix index 0.2 percent lower to 1,635.77. However, the Mothers index of small and mid-caps gained 0.8 percent to 1,235.93.

The consumer finance sector was mixed again. There is some feeling that earlier declines have left share prices in the sector undervalued, but early gains on the session were lost for some. Aiful added 0.2 percent to ¥4,510, while Promise gained 0.5 percent to ¥4,310 and Takefuji was up 1.7 percent to ¥4,820. On the other hand, Credit Saison dropped 0.4 percent to ¥4,920.

Real estate was mixed as well, with the sector as a whole up 0.5 percent on the session as signs continue that property prices are rising all over Japan. While Mitsubishi Estate and Mitsui Fudosan each added 0.2 percent, to ¥2,860 and ¥2,895, Sumitomo Realty & Development was 0.5 percent lower to ¥3,790.

Among export-focused stocks, the semiconductors sector saw losses after the US sector declined on bad news from Intel, which issued a lower capital spending forecast. Tokyo Electron fell 3 percent to ¥9,010, while Advantest dropped 4.4 percent to ¥6,070.