TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei share average ended lower on Monday after two sessions of gains, as technology stocks tracked Wall Street’s weak finish last week and some big stocks traded ex-dividend.
The Nikkei fell 0.44 percent to 50,526.92, while the broader Topix inched 0.1 percent higher to 3,426.52.
All three major US stock indexes closed nominally lower on Friday, snapping a five-session rally.
In Japan, chip-related heavyweights fell, with Advantest and Tokyo Electron losing 2.3 percent and 0.29 percent, respectively.
Air conditioning maker Daikin Industries fell 2.02 percent.
The Nikkei slipped as some large stocks with higher dividend payouts went ex-dividend, said Seiichi Suzuki, chief equity market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.
Japan Tobacco fell 1.6 percent, while tyre maker Bridgestone slipped 1.23 percent. Their financial year closes in December.
The Topix’s rubber maker index slipped 1.4 percent to become the worst performer among the 33 industry sub-indexes.
Banks rose as the Bank of Japan’s summary of opinions showed that policymakers debated the need to keep raising interest rates even after the hike in December.