Japanese stocks close mixed

Japanese stocks ended mixed on Thursday as investors weighed data showing services activity contracted to the lowest level in more than two years, which could prompt the Bank of Japan to backtrack on its plans to raise interest rates. According to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the 225-issue Nikkei ended the session slightly higher by 0.10 per cent, or 38.43 points, to 38,143.29. While the broader Topix index closed down marginally by 0.05 per cent, or 1.39 points, to close at 2635.57 points, on the other hand, the US currency fell against its Japanese counterpart by nearly 31 per cent to 152.2 yen in morning trading. Source: Yemen News Agency