Tokyo stocks extend losses on weak semiconductor shares

TOKYO, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower on Monday, dragged down by heavy selling in chip-related shares, including Advantest, Tokyo Electron, and Disco.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, fell 529.68 points, or 1.24 percent, to close at 42,188.79, marking the lowest finish since Aug. 8.

SoftBank Group also declined, while cable maker Fujikura, considered an AI-linked stock, was dragged lower.

Selling by short-term overseas investors in index futures widened losses, with the Nikkei at one point tumbling nearly 900 points. With U.S. markets closed for Labor Day, position-closing sales also weighed on sentiment.

The broader Topix index fell 11.99 points, or 0.39 percent, to 3,063.19.

On the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market, decliners numbered 806, while 750 advanced and 62 remained unchanged. Enditem