Tokyo stocks end lower as tech earnings weigh

TOKYO, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index ending down more than 2 percent after briefly tumbling more than 3 percent amid concerns over the earnings of some technology companies.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 1,369.36 points, or 2.12 percent, from Thursday to wrap up at 63,290.11.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 38.21 points, or 0.95 percent, lower at 3,965.07.

On the top-tier Prime Market, nonferrous metal, electric appliance and glass and ceramics product issues were among the notable decliners.

Stocks fell from the outset of the morning session as artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares came under selling pressure, after weaker-than-expected earnings results from several major U.S. technology companies heightened concerns over the profitability and sustainability of massive AI investments.

Heavyweights led the losses, including semiconductor testing equipment maker Advantest, chipmaking equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron, and SoftBank Group, while electronic product maker Ibiden plunged 15.21 percent despite reporting robust earnings on Thursday.