Japan shares follow Wall Street higher on U.S. stimulus hopes

TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Japanese shares edged higher on
Friday, following a firmer finish on Wall Street, although gains
were somewhat capped by weakness in semiconductor stocks after
shares of industry bellwether Intel Corp tumbled overnight.
The benchmark Nikkei share average .N225 rose 0.21% to
23,523.95 by the midday break, while the broader Topix .TOPX
was nearly flat at 1,619.91.
Wall Street provided a strong lead as positive domestic
economic data and signs of progress in stimulus talks helped all
three major U.S. stock indexes finish higher on Thursday.
The market had little reaction to the final U.S.
presidential debate ahead of the November election.
Among the top losers on Friday, shares of semiconductor
firms Tokyo Electron 8035.T and Advantest Corp 6857.T lost
2.14% and 0.54%, respectively, following a 10% decline in
Intel's shares INTC.O after it reported a slump in quarterly
margins. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 7011.T climbed more than 4.9%
after Reuters reported it would freeze development of its
SpaceJet regional jet. Online games developer Nexon Co 3659.T soared above 15%,
having hit the daily limit earlier, after media reported that
the company would replace FamilyMart Co 8028.T in the Nikkei
stock average.
Other companies that were seen as potential candidates for
replacement, such as Kakaku.com Inc 2371.T and Zozo Inc
3092.T , fell 6.76% and 8.03%, respectively.
Japan Exchange Group 8697.T edged 0.34% higher after the
Nikkei business daily reported the Japanese financial regulator
had entered the Tokyo Stock Exchange to conduct an on-site
inspection to investigate the causes behind a full-day trading
halt earlier this month. The Mothers Index .MTHR of start-up firm shares slipped
2.82% as investors booked profits after recent rallies, and was
set to post the biggest weekly loss since mid-March.
Meanwhile, the TSE REIT index .TREIT edged 0.23% lower,
after hitting its lowest level since Aug. 12 in early trade.