TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average retreated on Friday, tracking Wall Street's weak finish overnight, with sentiment also weighed down by uncertainties about the Bank of Japan's policy path.
The Nikkei was down 0.36 per cent to 38,782.08 by the midday break after three straight sessions of gains. It has gained 1.45 per cent so far in the week.
The index recouped some losses after the BOJ maintained the amount for its regular bond-buying operation.
The central bank on Monday abruptly reduced the amount for bonds with 5-10 years left to maturity, raising speculations that it would continue its hawkish move.
"The market eyed the BOJ operation today because that was part of the gauge for its policy path," said Yugo Tsuboi, chief strategist at Daiwa Securities.
The broader Topix recovered from early losses to rise 0.19 per cent to 2,742.66, as investors bought the dip.
"Investors continue to scoop up cheap stocks as they see the market rising further towards the end of this year," said Jun Morita, general manager of the research department at Chibagin Asset Management.
On Thursday, U.S. stocks closed lower after the Dow reached an intraday high of 40,000 for the first time, as investors continued to recalibrate their rate-cut expectations following data showing a slowdown in inflation. The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index lost 0.55 per cent.
In Japan, chip-related shares fell on Friday, with Tokyo Electron losing 2.01 per cent to become the biggest drag on the Nikkei. Silicon-wafter maker Shin-Etsu Chemical fell 2.02 per cent.
Toyota Motor rose 1.4 per cent to become the biggest boost for the Topix. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group gained 2.17 per cent and 2.89 per cent, respectively.
The banking sector rose 1.56 per cent to become the top performer among the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry sub-indexes. - Reuters