(Updates with closing prices)
By Junko Fujita
TOKYO, July 13 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average
closed lower on Monday as investors weighed the corporate
outlook after the renewed Middle East conflict raised oil
prices.
The Nikkei fell 1.92% to 67,242.73, while the
broader Topix lost 0.71% to 4,007.49.
"The market was concerned about increasing costs due to the
rise in oil prices, and this came as the earnings season for
Japanese firms kicked off," said Daisuke Hashizume, a senior
analyst at Daiwa Securities.
Oil prices jumped more than 4% on Monday as energy shipments
via the Strait of Hormuz remained under threat, with the U.S.
and Iran announcing renewed military strikes.
Chip-related stocks dragged the Nikkei lower, with Advantest ( ADTTF )
and Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) falling 3.39% and 2.25%,
respectively.
Memory maker Kioxia ( KXHCF ) tanked 12.86%.
"As the market eyes memory prices, the Nikkei is being
influenced by South Korea's benchmark index, which is heavily
weighted toward memory makers, such as SK Hynix," said Daiwa's
Hashizume.
The Nikkei extended its losses later in the session as South
Korea's benchmark KOSPI tumbled, triggering circuit
breakers to suspend trading temporarily.
Shares in SK Hynix fell more than 15% on Monday
as investors booked profits, after a high-profile U.S. listing
saw the world's leading AI memory chipmaker surge 12.8% in its
Nasdaq debut on Friday.
In Japan, Yaskawa Electric ( YASKF ) tanked 14.34% to a daily
limit low of 5,972 yen after the robot maker's first-quarter net
profit fell 21.7%.
Gains in bank shares, which came as investors shifted their
focus to value stocks from AI-related shares, capped the Topix's
decline. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ( MUFG ) and Sumitomo
Mitsui Financial Group ( SMFG ) rose 2.31% and 1.63%,
respectively.
Of more than 1,500 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange's prime market, 36% rose, 60% fell, and 2% traded
flat.