Nikkei closes lower as chip-related company shares decline

Nikkei index closed lower today, Friday, affected by a decline in technology company stocks, as investors awaited the US jobs report later in the day, searching for indications of whether the Federal Reserve (the US central bank) will change its course on interest rates.

According to Reuters, the Nikkei index fell 0.26% to 30,994.67 points.

The index was volatile this week, losing 2.7 percent on Wednesday and gaining 1.8 percent in the previous session. It lost 2.7 percent during the week

Growth-related stocks that are highly sensitive to interest rates declined, as Tokyo Electron shares, which manufacture chip-making equipment, fell 1.59 percent, and Advance shares, which manufacture chip testing equipment, fell 1.65 percent.