Tokyo's Nikkei opens flat as investors seek direction

Tokyo - Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index opened flat on Tuesday as investors looked for direction after the US market was closed for the Labour Day holiday.

The Nikkei 225 index was down 0.01% or 1.18 points at 22 706.20 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 0.10% or 1.77 points at 1 718.54.

"As there are few clues for trading, blue-chip shares are seen lacking energy to rise further," SBI Securities said in a commentary.

The dollar fetched ¥110.92, down from ¥111.07 in London.

Global stock markets diverged on Monday, with a weak pound lifting London's benchmark index, and trade war concerns weighing on equities elsewhere.

In Tokyo, carmakers were lower, with Toyota losing 0.64% to ¥6 772 and Honda off 0.76% at ¥3 331.

Panasonic was down 1.36% at ¥1 303.5 and Hitachi was down 0.96% at ¥709.1, but chip-making devices maker Tokyo Electron was up 0.75% at ¥18 650 and chip-testing equipment maker Advantest was up 0.86% at ¥2 695.

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