TOKYO, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's key stock index fell for the first time in four trading days on Friday, closing at the day's low as concerns over a slowdown in U.S. interest rate cuts and fresh tariff risks weighed on the market.
The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, closed down 399.94 points, or 0.87 percent, at 45,354.99.
Selling was led by semiconductor-related shares after the decline in U.S. equities overnight, following solid U.S. economic data that dampened expectations for aggressive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
SoftBank Group, which had recently hit record highs adjusted for stock splits, also turned lower, dragging on the index.
After the initial sell-off, the Nikkei briefly rebounded, supported by yen weakness against the U.S. dollar and buying for interim dividend rights ahead of the ex-dividend date for companies with March fiscal year-ends.
The broader Topix index rose for the fourth consecutive day, adding 1.67 points, or 0.05 percent, to a record-high close of 3,187.02.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, declining issues numbered 376, while 1,197 advanced and 44 were unchanged. ■
