TOKYO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Thursday, weighed down by the selling of heavyweight technology shares.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 475.32 points, or 0.88 percent, from Wednesday at 53,818.04. The broader Topix index finished 3.17 points, or 0.09 percent, lower at 3,652.41.
On the top-tier Prime Market, the main decliners were nonferrous metal, marine transportation and machinery issues.
Stocks were pressured by the selling of heavyweight semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related issues following a sharp decline on the tech-heavy Nasdaq index as well as falls in other Asian markets.
However, the market was supported by the buying of domestic demand-related pharmaceutical and retail shares, lifting the broader Topix shortly to an intraday record high. ■