TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei share average declined for a third straight session on Monday as uncertainty ahead of a looming deadline for implementing additional US tariffs sapped investor appetite for riskier assets.
The Nikkei closed down 0.2% at 37,608.49, while the broader Topix shed 0.5% to sit at 2,790.88 after hitting an eight-month peak on Friday.
The Nikkei received some support as a portion of heavyweight shares saw some buying, with AI-focused startup investor SoftBank Group climbing 3% to offer the biggest lift.
US President Donald Trump hinted that he would be flexible regarding a new round of tariffs set to go into effect on April 2, helping lift the S&P and Dow at the end of the week.
But the benchmark Nikkei index struggled to advance on the day, seesawing between gains and losses as investors took a cautious approach to the impending tariff threat.
Many important details regarding the latest tariffs are still unknown, keeping investors on edge, said Kazuo Kamitani, a strategist at Nomura Securities.
“There’s no way to predict it, so we have no choice but to wait for the announcement,” Kamitani said.
Major semiconductor-related shares dragged on Monday, tracking their US peers after the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index ended nearly 1% lower on Friday.
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