By Michael Kitchen
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks ended lower, as concerns over the ongoing nuclear crisis and post-quake production problems for some tech and auto firms weighed on the market. The Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NI225 9,451, +1.97, +0.02%) closed with a 0.2% loss at 9,435.01, while the Topix finished down 0.8% at 853.95. Shares of technology firms, especially those with operations in the area most affected by the March 11 earthquake, were among the biggest decliners. Renesas Electronics Corp. (JP:6723 635.00, -35.00, -5.22%) (RNECY 4.01, -0.22, -5.20%) tumbled 6.1%, Hitachi Ltd. (JP:6501 422.00, -18.00, -4.09%) (HIT 54.45, +0.03, +0.06%) dropped 4.3%, and Elpida Memory Inc. (JP:6665 988.00, -38.00, -3.70%) (ELPDF 11.45, -1.05, -8.40%) fell 4%. Concerns over parts shortages at auto makers also pulled those shares lower, with Toyota Motor Corp. (JP:7203 3,225, -80.00, -2.42%) (TM 82.14, -0.86, -1.04%) down 2.7%, Honda Motor Co. (JP:7267 3,015, -75.00, -2.43%) (HMC 38.25, -0.52, -1.34%) falling 2.6%, and Nissan Motor Co. (JP:7201 671.00, -32.00, -4.55%) (NSANY 17.48, -0.33, -1.85%) ending with a 4.6% loss. |
