The Nikkei index reverses its course and closes higher amid a desire to buy declining stocks

Japan’s Nikkei average recovered from losses in early trading to close higher on Thursday, as investors bought stocks when they fell, and chip-related stocks led the gains.
The Nikkei index closed 0.16% higher at 38,633.02 points after declining by up to 0.8% earlier today, following the losses of European stocks in the previous session.
But the broader Topix index closed 0.11% lower at 2,725.54 points.
“There were no notable market movers today. Investors bought back stocks when they fell, sold when they rose, and at the end of the session, buying exceeded selling,” said Naoki Fujiwara, senior fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management.
Tokyo Electron shares of chip manufacturing equipment maker turned losses into gains, closing up 0.46%. Advantest, a maker of chip testing equipment, jumped 3.73% to become the biggest gainer on the Nikkei Index.
The shares of Fast Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo brand, fell by 0.38%, and the shares of Fanuc, which manufactures robots, by 0.85%.
Of the 225 stocks on the Nikkei index, 82 rose, 141 fell, and two stocks stabilized.