TOKYO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average fell
on Wednesday, retreating from the previous session's one-month
high, as chip-related stocks followed their U.S. peers lower.
The Nikkei declined 0.89% to 28,809.86, after
touching an intraday high of 29,121.01 on Tuesday, a level not
seen since Nov. 26.
The broader Topix slipped 0.51%, with the
growth-stock index sliding 0.92%, compared to just a
0.07% decline for the value-share index.
Chipmakers were the Nikkei's biggest decliners, with Trend
Micro's 3.89% slide the largest percentage decline,
while Tokyo Electron's 1.68% retreat was the biggest
drag by index points. Advantest dropped 2.53%.
Overnight, the tech-focused Nasdaq lost 0.48% as U.S.
stocks snapped a four-day rally. The Philadelphia SE
Semiconductor Index sank 1.17%.
Uniqlo store-operator Fast Retailing was another
notable loser, dropping 1.24%.
At the other end, J.Front Retailing was by far the
biggest percentage gainer on the Nikkei with an 8.22% jump as
the department store operator reported a big increase in
customer traffic after a state of emergency was lifted at the
end of September. That lifted peers including Isetan Mitsukoshi
Holdings, which rose 2.23%.
SoftBank Group recorded the biggest gain by index
points, rising 1.88%.
(Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)