Tokyo stocks dip in morning amid uncertainty over Mideast conflict
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks edged down Friday morning, amid heightened uncertainty as the Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East intensified.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 42.77 points, or 0.11 percent, from Thursday to 38,445.57. The broader Topix index was down 8.23 points, or 0.29 percent, at 2,783.85.
The U.S. dollar fell to the lower 145 yen range in Tokyo on selling following its three-week high in the upper 145 yen level overnight, dealers said.
At noon, the dollar fetched 145.24-26 yen compared with 145.68-73 yen at 4 p.m. in London and 145.39-41 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The euro was quoted at $1.1517-1521 and 167.27-35 yen against $1.1461-1462 and 166.64-68 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.
U.S. markets were closed Thursday for a public holiday.
In the stock market, investors refrained from trading actively amid uncertainty over whether Israel and Iran will seek a diplomatic solution, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying he will decide within two weeks whether to strike Tehran, brokers said.
"Investors were finding it difficult to tilt their positions to either buy or sell as it is unclear whether the situation in the Middle East will peak out or deteriorate due to actions to be taken by the United States," said Maki Sawada, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
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