Nikkei Closes Lower For First Time in 5 Sessions

Japan market summary for Thursday (Dec. 27)
Nikkei 225 Stock Average: -88.85 (-0.6%) to 15,564.69
Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: -110 (-0.7%) to 15,600, Singapore (SGX) -80 (-0.5%) to 15,605, Chicago (CME) *12/26 +50 (+0.3%) to 15,735
TOPIX: -8.53 (-0.6%) to 1,499.94; Advancers 532 x decliners 1,066 (unch. 130), New highs 2 x new lows 17; 28/33 sectors posted losses
Nikkei Jasdaq: +10.82 (+0.6%) to 1,726.81
Yen: unchanged against the US$ at 114.24; weakened 0.5% against euro last at the 165.45 level in Tokyo
Notes: MOTHERS -1.3%, HERCULES -1.2%. Nov. housing starts in negative double-digits y/y, but improving sequentially; recovery expected after Q1-2008.