TOKYO, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed lower Thursday as technology issues tracked their U.S. peers lower overnight amid continued concerns over a U.S. economic slowdown.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 97.73 points, or 0.35 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 27,930.57.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, added 2.99 points, or 0.15 percent, to finish at 1,966.28.
On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by electric appliance, wholesale trade and nonferrous metal issues, while land transportation, air transportation, and food issues were among the major gainers.
Local brokers said that heavily-weighed domestic chip issues dragged the broader market down following U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. saying it would lower its output of memory chip supply and further reduce its capital spending amid falling demand.
"Amid already existing fears of a slowdown in the U.S. economy, Micron Technology's move confirmed views that the demand for semiconductors will fall," Makoto Sengoku, a market analyst at the Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, was quoted as saying.
Market strategists here said Micron's news weighed on the tech-heavy Nasdaq and drove Tokyo Electron down 3.0 percent to become the Nikkei's biggest loser, with chip-testing equipment maker Advantest dropping 3.1 percent.
Nomura Securities strategist Maki Sawada said that Tokyo Electron and Advantest's retreat were to blame for the Nikkei closing in negative territory.
The market's downside was capped, however, by retail and transportation-oriented issues finding favor.
Takashimaya jumped 4.3 percent, while fellow department store operator Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings was the Nikkei's biggest winner climbing 5.6 percent.
Tobu Railway advanced 3.7 percent, Tokyu Corp gained 3.9 percent, and among air-transportation issues, Japan Airlines rose 2.2 percent.
By the close of play, electric appliance, wholesale trade and nonferrous metal issues declined the most, while land transportation, air transportation, and food issues comprised notable gainers.
Issues that rose outpaced those that fell by 1,279 to 489, while 68 ended the day unchanged.
On the Prime Market, 1,069.05 million shares changed hands, dropping from Wednesday's volume of 1,225.49 million shares.
The turnover on the penultimate trading day of the week came to 2,801.02 billion yen (20.06 billion U.S. dollars). ■