Japanese stocks came under broad profit-taking pressure after declines in Asian stocks, with the Nikkei 225 ending sharply lower. Movements in major indicators broadly reflected the market tone.
Selling led the domestic market against a backdrop of declines in Asian stocks. In particular, weak overseas markets put Japanese investors on the sidelines, and the decline accelerated toward the end of trading.
The Nikkei 225 ended at 60,819.36, down 429.23 points, or 0.70%, from the previous day. Other major indicators in the Tokyo market also remained weak, with stock prices generally ending lower.
Overseas markets saw periods of generally modest gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at 3,680.64, up 16.91, and the Shanghai Composite at 52,486.49, up 254.60. The Japanese market's reaction appeared to be influenced by movements in overseas markets.