(Updates with closing prices)
By Junko Fujita
TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average
finished more than 1% lower on Thursday, as investors booked
profits from a rally driven by expectations for fiscal dove
Sanae Takaichi's new government.
The Nikkei declined 1.35% to 48,641.61 in its second
straight session of falls. The broader Topix edged down
0.39% to 3,253.78.
"Investors had scooped up stocks ahead of the parliamentary
vote to elect Takaichi as prime minister, and as soon as she was
elected, they started a selloff as all the good news was priced
in," said Kazuaki Shimada, chief strategist at IwaiCosmo
Securities.
Hardline conservative Takaichi was elected Japan's first
female prime minister on Tuesday, sending the Nikkei to a record
intraday high of 49,945.95 on that day.
Sentiment was also hurt by concerns over the U.S.-China
relationship after reports that the Trump administration was
considering curbs on exports to China made with U.S. software.
"The news on the U.S.-China issues became a trigger for the
selloff, but it was not a fundamental reason for today's
declines," Shimada said.
Technology investor SoftBank Group lost 4.66% to
become the biggest drag for the Nikkei. Chip-related Advantest ( ADTTF )
and Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) lost 3.71% and 3.25%,
respectively.
Meanwhile, defence-related shares jumped, with Sumitomo
Heavy Industries ( SOHVF ) surging 11.26%. Kawasaki Heavy
Industries ( KWHIF ) and IHI rose 8.32% and 4.3%,
respectively.
The shares rose on expectations that Japan may propose to
boost defence spending as Takaichi and U.S. President Donald
Trump are scheduled to hold a meeting next week, Shimada said.
Of the more than 1,600 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange's prime market, 59% rose, 37% fell and 3% traded flat.
(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)