TOKYO, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

slid on Friday, dragged lower by chip-related stocks on

rekindled concerns about technology investment.

Tech heavyweight Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) plunged 17%, the

most in almost a year, after the chip equipment maker slashed

its profit forecast, citing changes in spending plans by

semiconductor companies. Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest ( ADTTF )

dropped 2.2%.

The Nikkei 225 Index slid 0.4%, set for a 1.3%

decline this week. The broader Topix edged up 0.4%,

largely on the back of gains in utilities.

U.S. shares slid overnight, with artificial

intelligence-related companies such as Nvidia ( NVDA ) weighing

on the PHLX semiconductor index.

And shortly before Asian markets opened, U.S. President

Donald Trump slapped dozens of trading partners with steep

tariffs, further damping demand for risk assets.

"Semiconductor-related stocks with high price-to-book ratios

started with a selling bias," said Maki Sawada, an equities

strategist at Nomura Securities.

"Factors including the drop in the SOX index and the sharp

decline in Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) appear to be spreading to other

semiconductor-related stocks and weighing on the overall

market."

After market hours on Thursday, Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) cut its

operating profit forecast by more than 20%. Capital investment

in mature generation equipment in China fell during the June

quarter, the company said.

There were 176 advancers on the Nikkei against 47 decliners.

The largest percentage gainer on the index was Fuji Electric ( FELTF )

with a 14% jump after the company lifted its full-year

profit guidance.

Japan Tobacco ( JAPAF ) surged 5.8% after saying it expected

operating profit to more than double in the year ending in

December.

The largest loser by percentage on the index was Tokyo

Electron ( TOELF ), headed for the biggest slide since August 2024. It was

followed by Socionext ( SOCNF ), down 12%, and Hitachi ( HTHIF ),

which lost 8.5%.