Japanese shares mixed on profit-taking
By DPA, IANSThursday, February 17, 2011
TOKYO - Japanese stocks were mixed in Friday morning trading as investors sold shares to lock in quick profits after recent gains.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 2.55 points, or 0.02 percent, to trade at 10,839.19, after the Nikkei climbed Thursday to nearly a 10-month closing high.
The broader Topix index was down 0.13 points, or 0.01 percent, at 974.01.
Stocks fluctuated but did not go down further in the morning as investors were optimistic about US economic recovery.
The US-based Conference Board, a private research group, said Thursday its index of economic indicators rose for the seventh straight month while a gauge of business activity from the US central bank’s Philadelphia division also rose more than expected.
On currency markets at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 83.30-31 yen, down from Thursday’s 5 p.m. quote of 83.53-54 yen.
The euro traded at 1.3622-3623 dollars, up from 1.3565-3566 dollars Thursday, and at 113.47-50 yen, up from 113.31-35 yen.
