Japanese shares mixed ahead of earning results

TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese share prices were narrowly mixed in morning trade Tuesday as nervousness ahead of domestic company results weighed against support from overnight gains on Wall Street, dealers said. The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index of leading shares fell 16.03 points or 0.09 percent to 17,947.61 by the lunch break. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares gained 3.15 points or 0.18 percent to 1,760.44.
Investors are awaiting earnings announcements from key electronics companies Matsushita Electric on Wednesday, Sony on Thursday and Toshiba on Friday. "Investors are increasingly moving to the sidelines to await results and to consider full year corporate earnings prospects," Shinko Securities strategist Tsuyoshi Segawa said. Disappointing June quarter earnings result by US chipmaker Texas Instruments after the close on Wall Street Monday also weighed on sentiment, dealers said.