In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was 0.28 percent lower to 16,785.69 on Friday.

The Topix index closed at 1,616.62, while the Mothers market was higher, ending the session at 732.72 for a gain of 1.7 percent.

The pharmaceuticals sector was mixed.

Chugai Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4519) was 2.6 percent lower to ¥1,897 after it said it would need to extend clinical tests for a new anemia drug, while Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) gained 4.6 percent to ¥3,450 on the news that the US Food and Drug Administration approved its new blood pressure medication.

House builders were also mixed.

While Daiwa House Industry (TYO: 1925) dropped 0.1 percent to ¥1,499, Sekisui House (TYO: 1928; OTC: SKHSY) was 0.6 percent higher to ¥1,446.

In the real estate sector, Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) was down 3 percent to ¥3,290.

Consumer lender Takefuji (TYO: 8564) added 5.8 percent to ¥2,280 after it announced a share buy-back.

Camera and copier maker Canon (TYO: 7751; NYSE: CAJ) gained 2.6 percent to ¥6,270 on the possibility that it might also buy back shares.

Construction equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (TYO: 7011) was 1.9 percent higher to ¥751 on the announcement that it will supply a Chinese nuclear facility.

Tokyo’s markets saw declines on Tuesday.

The Nikkei 225 fell 0.63 percent to 16,420.47 and the Topix index dropped 0.7 percent to 1,596.74, while the Mothers market was 0.1 percent lower to 733.41.

The utilities sector was lower after Kansai Electric Power (TYO: 9503) had halt power generation at a nuclear facility in western Japan due to a leak of radioactivity inside the plant.

Kansai dropped 2 percent to ¥2,690, while Tokyo Electric Power (TYO: 9501) dropped 1.6 percent to ¥3,030 on the news.

Clothing retailer Fast Retailing (TYO: 9983) was 3.6 percent lower to ¥6,490 on its declaration that it will continue to pursue acquisitions after recently failing to buy Barney’s New York.

The real estate sector was down 1.8 percent as a whole on the news that capital spending was down by 47 percent in the sector from the same quarter last year.

Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) dropped 1 percent to ¥3,010, while Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) was down 2.7 percent to ¥2,900.

House builder Sekisui House (TYO: 1928; OTC: SKHSY) fell 3.7 percent to ¥1,425.

In the transport sector, Kawasaki Kisen (TYO: 9107) dropped 0.78 percent to ¥1,535 and Mitsui OSK Lines (TYO: 9104) was down 1.1 percent to ¥1,725 after the price of dry freight rose again.