Japan's Nikkei share average pared early losses to close higher on Thursday as investors bought shares on the decline, with chip-related stocks leading the gains.
The Nikkei index closed up 0.16 percent at 38,633.02 points after falling as much as 0.8 percent earlier in the day, tracking losses in European stocks in the previous session.
But the broader Topix index closed down 0.11 percent at 2,725.54.
“There were no notable market drivers today,” said Naoki Fujiwara, senior fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management. “Investors bought back stocks when they fell and sold when they rose, and at the end of the session, buying outweighed selling.”
Tokyo Electron, a maker of chip manufacturing equipment, turned losses into gains to close 0.46 percent higher. Chip testing equipment maker Advantest jumped 3.73 percent to become the top gainer on the Nikkei.
Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing fell 0.38 percent and robot maker Fanuc fell 0.85 percent.
Of the 225 stocks on the Nikkei index, 82 rose, 141 fell and two were flat.
