Tokyo, October 14 (QNA) - Japan's Nikkei index gave up its early gains to close slightly lower on Wednesday, weighed down by a decline in semiconductor stocks following the earnings announcement by Dutch chipmaking equipment manufacturer ASML.

The Nikkei fell 0.05 percent to 67,744.29 points, after rising by as much as 0.93 percent during the session, while the broader Topix index declined 0.34 percent to 4,096.78 points.

Tokyo Electron shares fell 2.73 percent, while Advantest shares declined 0.05 percent.

In contrast, shares of Fujikura, a manufacturer of fiber-optic cables, rose 2.56 percent, while Taiyo Yuden shares climbed 3.59 percent.

Bank stocks weighed on the Topix index, with Mizuho Financial Group shares falling 2.87 percent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group shares declining 1.94 percent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group shares dropping 1.85 percent.

On the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market, shares of 57 percent of listed companies declined, while 38 percent rose and 3 percent remained unchanged. (QNA)