Tokyo stocks traded in negative territory during morning trading. Semiconductor stocks fell following a decline in Samsung Electronics, weighing on the Nikkei Stock Average.
The Nikkei Stock Average continued to trend sharply lower from the previous day, opening the morning session at ¥65,195.26, down ¥332.83. Selling spread across the market, led by decliners, against a backdrop of declines in technology stocks.
As Samsung Electronics shares came under selling pressure in the South Korean market, major semiconductor stocks in Tokyo, including Advantest and Tokyo Electron, also declined, weighing on the Nikkei. A major securities firm said investors appeared inclined to refrain from buying ahead of Nvidia's earnings announcement.
Meanwhile, the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) continued to trade around the previous day's closing level, with advancers accounting for more than half of all stocks in the Prime Market.
The morning-session trend continued after the open, with the Nikkei trading at -332.83 sen, while movements in technology stocks remained a drag on the market. Conditions in the morning session are drawing attention as a factor that could influence the market's direction ahead.