The Nikkei 225 fell sharply as profit-taking selling dominated. It ended down ¥647 at ¥68,309, with the US employment report due tonight.
The Tokyo market opened with the Nikkei 225 down ¥643 at ¥68,313. Selling pressure from profit-taking after the previous day's sharp rise intensified, and the market remained weak throughout the day.
In the afternoon, the index traded around ¥68,300 before closing at ¥68,309, down ¥647. TOPIX fell 40 points to 4,091 points, while the emerging-market TSE Growth 250 Index fell 4 points to 798, with both indices declining.
Among individual stocks, SoftBank Group fell 5.8% to ¥6,310, INPEX rose 2.4% to ¥3,696, Mitsui Mining & Smelting rose for a third consecutive day to ¥2,553.5, Nishimatsuya Chain fell 2.4% to ¥1,920, and Kusuri no Aoki Holdings rose 18.9% to ¥4,411.
Looking ahead, attention will focus on the US employment report due tonight, as well as next week's release of the ISM Services PMI on the evening of the 5th and deliberations in the domestic extraordinary Diet session on a cut to the consumption tax rate.