Tokyo, May 19 (QNA) - Japanese stock indexes closed mixed at the end of trading on Tuesday.
The Nikkei index fell 0.44 percent to close at 60,550.59 points, after having risen by more than 1 percent earlier in the session, thereby extending its losing streak to a fourth consecutive session.
By contrast, the broader Topix index rose 0.63 percent to end trading at 3,850.67 points.
Shares of chip-making equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron fell 4.26 percent, weighing most heavily on the Nikkei.
Shares of chip-testing equipment maker Advantest also declined 3.29 percent, while technology investor SoftBank Group fell 4.15 percent, and memory-chip maker Kioxia dropped 3.27 percent.
Shares of fiber-optic cable manufacturers also retreated, with Fujikura plunging 16.95 percent and Furukawa Electric falling 8.37 percent.
Meanwhile, the banking sector advanced, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group rising 3.77 percent and Mizuho Financial Group gaining 5.53 percent.
Among the more than 1,600 shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market, 71 percent rose, 27 percent declined, while 1 percent remained unchanged. (QNA)