The Nikkei Stock Average ended the morning at ¥68,098, down ¥1,121 from the previous day. The decline in US markets and semiconductor-related stocks following Chinese economic data were cited as factors, while the yen traded in the ¥159-per-dollar range.
The Nikkei Stock Average fell on the morning of the 18th, and the decline widened further after it fell below ¥69,000. It ended at ¥68,098, down ¥1,121 from the previous day.
The decline was attributed to falls in major stock indexes in US markets on the 17th and declines in semiconductor-related stocks following economic data released in China. The yen traded in the ¥159-per-dollar range.