The Nikkei 225 one of the few Asian equities indices that showed a decline on Tuesday

The Nikkei dropped 0.2 percent to 17,248.89, while the Topix index closed barely higher at 1,706.18 and the Mothers market added 1.38 percent to 864.7.

Earnings results and other news drove gains and losses on the session in Tokyo.

Among banks, Shinsei Bank (TYO: 8303) added 6.4 percent to ¥448 on its report that quarterly recurring profit had gone up by 22 percent in its fiscal first quarter, while net income had risen by 63 percent.

The steel sector, on the other hand, saw declines after Japan’s Fair Trade Commission said it has begun an investigation into Nippon Steel (TYO: 5401) and JFE (TYO: 5411) concerning whether the two had engaged in price-fixing.

JFE was 1.7 percent lower to ¥8,210, while Nippon Steel dropped 2 percent to ¥900 as ¥91 billion in shares changed hands on the session.

Sumitomo Metal (TYO: 5405) fell 2.7 percent to ¥692.

The electronics sector was mixed,

Sharp (TYO: 6753) added 1.5 percent to ¥2,065 ahead of news after the close that it will build a new plant in Japan, while Sanyo Electric (TYO: 6764; NAS: SANYY) was 0.5 percent lower to ¥185 on a drop in operating profit of 72 percent in its fiscal first quarter, while Kyocera (TYO: 6971) dropped 6.3 percent to ¥11,500 on disappointing broker comments.

Camera maker Nikon (TYO: 7731) added 5.5 percent to ¥3,820 after Nikko Citigroup raised its target share price.

The Nikkei 225 was fractionally higher Monday, adding 5.49 points to 17,289.3, while the Topix index gained 0.4 percent to 1,705.71.

The Mothers market of small and mid-cap stocks was 1.63 percent higher to 852.93.

The gains came despite predicted declines after the ruling Liberal Democratic party lost its control of the upper house of Japan’s parliament, the Diet, in Sunday’s elections.

The steel sector saw gains after JFE (TYO: 5411) said its operating profit in the quarter ending in June was up 59 percent and income was 63 percent higher.

JFE added 5 percent to ¥8,350.

Nippon Steel (TYO: 5401) also announced a profit increase and Nippon Metal (TYO: 5479) said its income was a ¥3.5 billion, up from ¥75 million last year at the same time.

Quarterly reports helped some in the electronics sector as well, where Mitsubishi Electric (TYO: 6503) was 9.9 percent higher to ¥1,266 after it said that profits were up by 63 percent in the most recent quarter.

On the other hand, Sony (TYO: 6758; NYSE: SNE) was down 1.1 percent to ¥6,350.

In the automobile manufacturing sector Toyota Motor (TYO: 7203.T; NSYE: TM; LSE: TYT) gained 0.1 percent to ¥7,270 after early declines.

Sectors that are domestically focused were lower after more price cuts were announced by NTT DoCoMo (TYO: 9437), which then dropped 2.4 percent to ¥166,000.

KDDI (TYO: 9433) was also lower, falling 2.1 percent to ¥793,000.

Softbank (TYO: 9984), which also has a mobile phone unit, was 1 percent lower to ¥2,490.

In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 closed 2.4 percent lower to 17,283.81 on Friday, while the Topix index ended the session at 1,699.71, a drop of 2.2 percent.

The Mother’s market of small and mid-caps was down 1.51 percent to 839.27.

Export sectors were hit hard by worries that the global economy could slow.

Among carmakers, Toyota (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) fell 1.6 percent to ¥7,260, it lowest share price in six weeks, while Honda (TYO: 7267; NYSE: HMC) dropped 2.5 percent to ¥4,310.

Camera manufacturer Canon (TYO: 7751; NYSE: CAJ) was 5.5 percent lower to ¥6,510 even though it reported that its net profits were up 19 percent in the first half of 2007.

Games maker Nintendo (TYO:7974; NAS: NTODY; FWB: NTO) was down 6.2 percent to ¥58,000.

Shipper Mitsui OSK Lines (TYO: 9104) dropped 2.7 percent to ¥1,782.

Domestic sectors were also lower, still worried about Sunday’s elections as polls continue to say that the ruling Liberal Democrats could lose control of the Upper House of parliament.

In the retail sector, Seven & I (TYO: 3382) fell 1.2 percent to ¥3,390, while supermarket chain Aeon (TYO: 8267) was 4.6 percent lower to ¥1,917.

Among banks, Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306; NYSE: MTU) was down 3 percent to ¥1,290,000.

Equities markets in Tokyo were lower on Thursday.

The Nikkei 225 was 0.9 percent lower to 17,702.09 and the Topix index dropped 1 percent to 1,737.18, while the Mothers market was down 0.66 percent to 852.13.

Tokyo’s declines came as investors worried about the outcome of parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday, where polls suggest that the ruling Liberal Democratic party could have a difficult time holding the Upper House.

Domestic sectors were particularly affected.

In the real estate sector, Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) dropped 1.9 percent to ¥3,160, while among retailers Seven & I (TYO: 3382) was 1.7 percent lower to ¥3,430.

In the semiconductors sector, Advantest (TYO: 6857; NYSE: ATE) dropped 5.2 percent to ¥4,920 after it said that net profits were down 13 percent in the most recent quarter.

Earnings reports helped games maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974; NAS: NTDOY; FWB: NTO), which upped its earnings guidance for the full year by 41 percent as it reported sharp profits in the quarter to June from its Wii games console.

Nintendo added 8.8 percent to ¥61,800.

A profits report also aided Nomura Holdings (TYO: 8604; NYSE: NMR; SGX; N33), which gained 6.6 percent to ¥2,260.

Major equities markets in Tokyo were lower on Wednesday.

The Nikkei 225 fell 0.8 percent to 17,858.42, while the Topix index dropped 0.68 percent to 1,754.03.

On the other hand, the Mothers market of small and mid-caps added 0.66 percent to close at 857.81.

The retail sector was mixed.

In mergers rumors, department stores Mitsukoshi (TYO: 2779) and Isetan (TYO: 8238) were said to be talking about making a capital alliance and could look to merge later on.

Mitsukoshi added 7.51 percent to ¥587 and Isetan closed even at ¥1,901, while elsewhere in the retail sector, Seven & I (TYO: 3382) fell 0.29 percent to ¥3,490.

Exporters were hurt by a stronger yen.

In the automobile manufacturing sector Toyota Motor (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) was 1.33 percent lower to ¥7,410, while Honda Motor (TYO: 7267; NYSE: HMC) dropped 1.78 percent to ¥4,420.

In the electronics sector Sony (TYO: 6758; NYSE: SNE) was down 0.32 percent to ¥6,280 and Matushita Electric Industrial (TYO: 6572; NYSE: MC) fell 3.59 percent to ¥2,285.

In the oil sector, Nippon Oil (TYO: 5001) dropped 3.86 percent to ¥1,121 as the price of crude oil continued to decline.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei was 0.2 percent higher on Tuesday to 18,002, while the Topix index advanced 0.5 percent to 1,765.99 and the Mothers market of small and mid-caps jumped 1.98 percent to 852.21.

Tokyo Electric Power (TYO: 9501) was higher after several sessions of losses after last week’s earthquake damaged one of its nuclear power plants, adding 3.4 percent to ¥3,340.

Also managing a comeback was the telecommunications sector, which had been lower after two mobile operators announced price cuts.

KDDI (TYO: 9433) had the best rebound in the sector, gaining 4.8 percent to ¥870,000 on a 15.6 gain in operating profits in the quarter ending in June.

Elsewhere in the sector, NTT DoCoMo (TYO: 9437) was 1.1 percent higher to ¥178,000 and Softbank (TYO: 9984) was up ¥2,620.

The banking sector also saw gains.

Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306; NYSE: MTU) was 0.77 percent higher to ¥1,310,000, while Mizuho Financial (TYO: 8411; NYSE: MFG) gained 2.1 percent to ¥857,000 and Resona Holdings (TYO; 8308) added 4.1 percent to ¥280,000.

The Tokyo equities markets were lower on Monday as the Nikkei 225 and the Topix index each dropped 1.1 percent, to 17,963.64 and 1,757.29 respectively.

The declines came after losses in New York on Friday and on polls over the weekend that showed Japan’s ruling party could see a defeat in next Sunday’s elections for the Upper House of its parliament.

Some analysts believe that a major defeat could mean a resignation from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that could send both equities and the yen lower, at least temporarily.

Tokyo Electric Power (TYO: 9501) saw another loss, falling 2.7 percent to ¥3,230 in the wake of last week’s earthquake.

Also seeing further losses was the telecommunications sector, after some major mobile phone providers cut prices last week.

KDDI (TYO: 9433) was 2.7 percent lower to ¥830,000, while NTT DoCoMo (TYO: 9437) dropped 2.8 percent to ¥176,000.

Softbank (TYO: 9984), which did not announce a price cut, was down 3.4 percent to ¥2,575.

The construction machinery sector was lower after a worse-than-expected quarterly report from US company Caterpillar (NSYE: CAT).

Hitachi Construction Machinery (TYO: 6305) fell 1.2 percent to ¥4,980, while Komatsu (TYO: 6301) dropped 1.3 percent to ¥3,940.

The Tokyo equities markets saw gains on Friday.

The Nikkei 225 gained 0.2 percent to 18,157.93 and the Topix closed at 1,776.17, 0.5 percent higher on the session.

In the electronics sector, Matsushita Electric Industrial (TYO: 6572; NYSE: MC), which makes the Panasonic brand of consumer electronics, added 1.5 percent to ¥2,385.

The steel sector was also higher, with Nippon Steel (TYO: 5401) adding 3.9 percent to ¥955 after it was reported that Japan’s output of crude steel was at a 33-year high in the first half of 2007.

On the other hand, the telecommunications sector was lower after KDDI (TYO: 9433) and Softbank (TYO: 9984) both decided to cut fees to mobile phone users.

NTT DoCoMo (TYO: 9437) fell 1.1 percent to ¥181,000, while Softbank dropped 2.7 percent to ¥2,665 and KDDI was 6.1 percent lower to ¥853,000.

The consumer finance sector also saw losses.

Sanyo Shinpan (TYO: 8573) was 2.2 percent lower to ¥3,520, while Takefuji fell 5.4 percent to ¥3,820 and Promise was down 6.6 percent to ¥3,540.

Tokyo’s equities markets were higher on Thursday, as the Nikkei 225 added 0.6 percent to 18,116.57 and the Topix index gained 0.5 percent to 1,768.

Tokyo Electric Power (TYO: 9501) continued to decline after reports of earthquake damage to one of its nuclear power plants.

It dropped another 5.6 percent to ¥3,400 after Nomura Securities (TYO: 8604; NYSE: NMR; SGX; N33) reduced its recommendation from “neutral” to “reduce”.

The real estate sector also saw declines, with Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) down 0.9 percent to ¥3,180 and NTT Urban Development (TYO: 8933) falling 1.4 percent to ¥217,000.

The consumer finance sector saw advances after it was reported that Promise (TYO: 8574) and Sanyo Shinpan Finance (TYO: 8573) are about to agree to a merger.

Trade in both companies was halted after the reports, but Promise had added 5.9 percent to ¥3,790 and Sanyo Shinpan was 12.2 percent higher to ¥3,600 before that occurred.

Elsewhere in the sector, Takefuji (TYO: 8564) gained 7.7 percent to ¥4,404 and Aiful (TYO: 8515) was up 11.2 percent to ¥3,480.

The steel sector was up in anticipation of the release of JFE Holdings’ (TYO:5411) quarterly results, due at the end of the month.

JFE added 4.4 percent to ¥8,270, while Nippon Steel (TYL: 5401) was 4.7 percent higher to ¥919.

In Tokyo on Wednesday the Nikkei 225 was 1.1 percent lower to 18,015.58, while the Topix index also dropped 1.1 percent, to 1,758.65.

The declines came from both domestically-focused and export-focused sectors.

On the domestic side, the retail sector was down 1.9 percent as a whole, with several retailers doing even worse than that.

Aeon (TYO: 8267) dropped 2.1 percent to ¥2,055, while department store chain Isetan (TYO: 8238; SGX: I15) fell 2.2 percent to ¥1,922.

The worst performer on the Nikkei was Fast Retailing (TYO: 9983), which was down 4.4 percent to ¥7,280.

In the utilities sector, Tokyo Electric Power (TYO: 9501) was 4 percent lower to ¥3,600 on reports that a survey of earthquake damage in its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant had found 50 separate problems.

After US semiconductors manufacturer Intel (NAS: INTC; SEHK: 4335) reported margins at the low end of predictions in the second quarter, chipmaker Tokyo Electron (TYO: 8035) dropped 1 percent to ¥8,930.

The electronics sector was mixed on broker recommendations.

While Nikon (TYO: 7731) added 0.5 percent to ¥3,730 on a Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) upgrade from “overweight” to “equal-weight”, Pioneer was 3.3 percent lower to ¥1,645 after Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS; SWX: CSGN) cut its rating from “neutral” to “underperform”.