TOKYO, May 25 (Reuters) - Japanese shares settled higher on
Tuesday, as a strong finish on the Nasdaq overnight boosted
heavyweight local technology stocks, although worries about a
sluggish economic recovery because of a slow vaccine rollout
capped gains.
The Nikkei share average rose 0.67% to close at
28,553.98, while the broader Topix inched up 0.34% to
1,919.52.
"High-priced stocks have lifted the Japanese market after a
strong gain in major U.S. indexes," said Norihiro Fujito, chief
investment strategist, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.
"But, fundamentally, the market is weighed down on concerns
over Japan's slow response to the pandemic, which has caused a
big gap between the economic sentiment in Japan against the U.S.
and Europe. The pace of Japan's vaccine rollouts is still
incomparable with these countries."
Wall Street's three main indexes gained overnight, with the
Nasdaq Composite jumping more than 1% after U.S.
Treasury yields retreated.
Chip-related shares advanced, with Tokyo Electron
jumping 1.76% and Advantest rising 2.35%.
Other index heavyweights Fast Retailing gained
0.93% and SoftBank Group advanced 0.54%.
The prolonged pandemic continues to drag sentiment, with
local media reports saying that Japan was leaning towards
extending the emergency measures beyond May 31, while the U.S.
State Department on Monday urged against travel to Japan.
Retailers declined, with J.Front Retailing losing
1.88%, Takashimaya falling 1.45% and Isetan Mitsukoshi
Holdings slipping 2.05%.
Airliners also fell, with ANA Holdings and Japan
Airlines losing 0.80% each.
The largest percentage gainer on the Nikkei was Konami
Holdings, up 4.29%, followed by Kobe Steel,
gaining 3.85%, and Japan Steel Works, up 3.63%.
T&D Holdings Inc, down 3.1%, was the largest
percentage loser on the index, followed by NH Foods,
losing 2.96%, and Tosoh Corp, down by 2.77%.
(Reporting by Junko Fujita; editing by Uttaresh.V and
Subhranshu Sahu)