TOKYO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed lower Monday as investors opted to lock in profits following the market's recent rally, with a drop in semiconductors weighing on the broader market.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 335.66 points, or 1.00 percent, from Friday to close the day at 33,370.42.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, lost 9.86 points, or 0.43 percent, to finish at 2,290.50.
Brokers here said that gains made late last week following the Bank of Japan announcing it would stay pat on its ultra-loose monetary policy, were reversed as investors sought profits.
"Buying that took place last week after the BOJ announced it would stick to monetary easing has run its course, so investors are unloading shares," Masahiro Yamaguchi, head of investment research at SMBC Trust Bank, was quoted as saying.
Market strategists also noted that trade was somewhat lackluster as some market players hit the sidelines as many foreign investors are away ahead of U.S. markets being closed Monday for a national holiday.
"There was always a support from foreign investors when the Nikkei turned weak, but today was different," Seiichi Suzuki, chief equity market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, was quoted as saying.
"There was not enough buyers as foreign investors seemed to have been away from the market ahead of a U.S. holiday on Monday. The Nikkei may turn course in the latter part of the next session when foreign investors are back," Suzuki said.
Semiconductor-oriented issues weighed on the market as they tracked their U.S. peers who lost ground on Friday following a key semiconductor index retreating.
Among these, Nikkei heavyweight Tokyo Electron, a chip-manufacturing equipment maker, lost 2.5 percent, while Advantest fell 3.3 percent.
Screen Holdings sank 3.3 percent, although electric motor maker Nidec added 1.6 percent, after announcing a joint venture with Brazil's Embraer to produce components for electric jets in the United States.
But heavily weighted Uniqlo clothing chain operator Fast Retailing ended lower, relinquishing 1.4 percent.
By the close of play, nonferrous metal, transportation equipment and mining shares comprised those that declined the most.
The turnover on the Prime Market on the first trading day of the week came to 3,672.23 billion yen (about 25.87 billion U.S. dollars). ■