TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average fell on Wednesday as investors cut exposure to risky assets after the failure of Greek politicians to form a government raised the prospect leftists opposed to bailout terms could win new elections in June.

Gains in Japan’s top banks, after they forecast earnings above market expectations, lent support to the Japanese market.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average fell to a 3-1/2 month closing low on Tuesday, weighed down by exporters with exposure to Europe after Greece struggled to form a coalition government, increasing fears that it may have to leave the euro zone.

The Nikkei closed down 0.8 percent at 8,900.74, although it pulled back from the lowest intraday level since the beginning of February in the afternoon session, with traders suspecting the Bank of Japan of purchasing exchange-traded funds to support the market.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average inched higher on Monday to end a three-day losing streak as China’s monetary easing countered unease ahead of Greece’s last-ditch attempt to form a coalition government later in the day.

Gains in Kansai Electric Power Co (9503.T: Quote, Profile, Research), up 5.6 percent after a local town assembly agreed to support the restart of two offline nuclear reactors, also helped the index to stay in positive territory.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average inched higher on Monday as China’s monetary easing countered unease ahead of Greece’s last-ditch attempt to form a coalition government later in the day.

Gains in Kansai Electric Power Co (9503.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) also helped the index to stay in positive territory.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Shares in Sony Corp slumped more than 7 percent to near 32-year lows, as investors doubted the Japanese consumer electronics giant has a strategy to fix its loss-making TV business and compete in the smartphone market against Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics.

The last time Sony shares were this low, in the summer of 1980, its first Walkman portable cassette player had just gone on sale in the United States.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Shares in Sony Corp slumped more than 7 percent to near 32-year lows, as investors doubted the Japanese consumer electronics giant has a strategy to fix its loss-making TV business and compete in the smartphone market against Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics.

The last time Sony shares were this low, in the summer of 1980, its first Walkman portable cassette player had just gone on sale in the United States.

TOKYO (Reuters) – The Nikkei share average steadied on Friday ahead of industrial output data from China, Japan’s largest export market, while investors zoomed in on companies such as Nikon Corp (7731.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Hitachi Corp (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) after positive earnings results.

Many Japanese companies hurt by supply disruptions after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and floods in Thailand, have shown some improvement in their earnings outlooks during the current results season, helping the overall market.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average briefly slipped below 9,000 on Thursday for the first time since February 14 as concern about the fragility of Spanish banks and political uncertainty in Greece dented sentiment.

Gains in Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), up 2.2 percent after positive earnings, and the utility sector lent support.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average fell 1.5 percent on Wednesday to a fresh three-month closing low as concerns grew that Greece could reject its hard-won bailout deal with international lenders that saved it from a disruptive bankruptcy.

The Nikkei was down 136.59 points at 9,045.06 to its lowest close since February 13, a day before the Bank of Japan unexpectedly eased policy by expanding its asset purchase programme to help the economy mired in deflation.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average fell 1.5 percent on Wednesday to a fresh three-month closing low as concerns grew that Greece could reject its hard-won bailout deal with international lenders that saved it from a disruptive bankruptcy.

The Nikkei .N225 was down 136.59 points at 9,045.06 to its lowest close since February 13, a day before the Bank of Japan unexpectedly eased policy by expanding its asset purchase program to help the economy mired in deflation.