The Nikkei Average began the morning session on the 12th around ¥70 above the previous day's level, but subsequently weakened under selling by investors waiting for a rebound. It was trading around ¥66,900 as of 10:16 a.m.
In Tokyo trading during the morning session on the 12th, the Nikkei Stock Average opened around ¥70 above the previous business day's level, but at one point subsequently fell ¥234.46. Buying initially led, supported by the weaker yen, but selling by investors waiting for a rebound pushed the index into negative territory, and it remained weak during the 10 a.m. hour local time. The yen-denominated settlement price for Nikkei futures in Chicago was ¥95 lower than the previous week.
By sector, 13 of the 33 sectors declined and 20 advanced. Nonferrous metals, pharmaceutical, textile and steel stocks were weak, while retail and air transport stocks also underperformed. Mining and major bank stocks, meanwhile, traded relatively firmly.
In the Tokyo foreign exchange market, USD/JPY was in the low ¥159s and EUR/JPY in the high ¥183s as of 10:16 a.m.
Among other major stocks, Sanrio, MECC, Tsubaki Nakashima, Tokyo Rope and Rakuten Group declined, while Sinanen Holdings, Milbon, Hamamatsu Rubber, Seiko Group and Monogatari Corporation advanced.
Market data showed the Nikkei Average at 66,955.26, TOPIX at 4114.79 and the NY Dow at 53391.85, among other figures.