Japans Nikkei share average slipped from a more than two-week high to end lower on Friday as investors weighed the result of the countrys upper house election on the weekend.
The Nikkei fell 0.21% to 39,819.11.
Earlier, it had actually risen to as high as 40,087.59, its highest level given that July 1, underpinned by the strong performance of Wall Street.
The S&P 500 stock index and the Nasdaq Composite both ended up at record highs on Thursday, as financiers accepted strong economic data and earnings reports that showed American consumers stayed willing to spend.For the week, the Nikkei increased 0.63% to snap two straight weeks of losses.
The broader Topix slipped 0.19% to 2,834.48.
Live Events Investors did not wish to take a threat in buying stocks ahead of the national election on the weekend, stated Yugo Tsuboi, primary strategist at Daiwa Securities.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito are anticipated to lose their bulk in the upper house on Sunday.
Strategists now concentrate on whether Ishiba will remain in his position or step down after the election, as a gauge of the countrys potential policy shift, which might result in a cut in the national consumption tax.Chip-related Advantest fell 4.44%, the biggest drag on the Nikkei.Disco was the largest portion loser on the Nikkei, tanking 8.79%, as the chipmaking device providers quarterly operating earnings projection missed market expectations.Technology financier SoftBank Group increased 5%, the most significant portion gainer and the most significant assistance for the index.Chipmaking devices maker Tokyo Electron removed early losses to end 0.29% higher.Of more than 1,600 stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchanges prime section, 33% increased and 63% fell, and 2% traded flat.