Japanese shares declined Thursday morning after overnight losses on Wall Street and European markets and as investors sold stocks to lock in quick profits after recent gains, dpa reported. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 54.82 points, or 0.57 per cent, to trade at 9,612.44 at the end of the morning session at 11:30 am (0230 GMT). The Nikkei surged 2.14 per cent Wednesday. The broader Topix index was down 2.39 points, or 0.29 per cent, at 816.88. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.63 per cent Wednesday as sales at technology firms Intel Corp and IBM Corp fell below analysts' expectations. Japan's exports rose 5.9 per cent from a year earlier for the first increase in six months in March to 6.2 trillion yen (76.26 billion dollars) as more vehicles and car parts were shipped, the Finance Ministry said. Imports also climbed 10.5 per cent to 6.29 trillion yen, driven by demand for fuel for thermal power generation after nuclear reactors were suspended across the country following the Fukushima atomic accident a year ago, the ministry said. As a result, the country posted a trade deficit of 82.6 billion yen, the first in two months. On currency markets at 11:30 am, the dollar traded at 81.50-52 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 81.31-33 yen. The euro was quoted at 106.92-96 yen, up from 106.61-65 yen late Wednesday, and at 1.3119-3122 dollars, up from 1.3111-3113 dollars.
