Tokyo stocks fell Friday as investor sentiment was hurt by weak earnings results from major Japanese companies and declines in Hong Kong shares amid U.S.-China tensions over restrictions on Chinese social media apps.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 88.21 points, or 0.39 percent, from Thursday at 22,329.94. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 3.14 points, or 0.20 percent, lower at 1,546.74.

Decliners were led by nonferrous metal, metal product, and chemical issues.

The U.S. dollar moved narrowly in the mid-105 yen zone as traders awaited U.S. nonfarm payrolls data for July due later in the day, following a weaker-than-expected private-sector jobs report released earlier this week.

Shares lost ground almost throughout the day, with the Nikkei briefly sinking over 200 points, as Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined after U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday issued orders prohibiting any transactions in the United States with the Chinese owners of mobile apps TikTok and WeChat in 45 days, citing national security concerns and possible censorship.

Selling pressure also grew as investors apparently locked in gains ahead of a three-day weekend in Japan.

"Investors grew cautious over U.S.-China tensions," said Makoto Sengoku, a market analyst at the Tokai Tokyo Research Institute. But he also said, "There was no momentum of further selling as market players awaited U.S. employment data and more earnings reports next week (in Japan)."

On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,183 to 908, while 82 ended unchanged.

Technology issues took a hit as Trump's pressure on Chinese high-tech companies sent ripples through the Tokyo market.

Chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron sank 625 yen, or 2.2 percent, to 27,940 yen, while its peer Advantest skid 260 yen, or 4.8 percent, to 5,190 yen.

Mitsubishi Materials lost 265 yen, or 11.4 percent, to 2,064 yen after the nonferrous metal group reported Thursday an 80 percent fall in net profit for its first quarter through June.

Shiseido plunged 524 yen, or 8.6 percent, to 5,540 yen after the cosmetics maker on Thursday projected a net loss for 2020.

Trading volume on the main section rose 1,189.38 to million shares from Thursday's 1,079.78 million shares.

==Kyodo

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