Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Ends Lower as Stronger Yen, Chip Losses Weigh (Update 1)

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average fell in choppy trade on Thursday, weighed down by a stronger yen and losses in semiconductor-related stocks, while investors await U.S. non-farm payroll data to gauge the strength of the world’s largest economy.

The Nikkei closed at its lowest level since Aug. 14, dropping 1% to 36,657.09, its third consecutive session of losses.

The broader Topix erased early gains to end 0.5% lower at 2,620.76.

The yen touched a one-month high of 143.20 earlier in the session, and has strengthened 1.8% so far this week.

A stronger local currency tends to hurt exporter shares as it decreases the value of overseas profits in yen terms when firms repatriate them to Japan.

“The labor data out so far this week has not really cooled concerns about the U.S. economy, and there is a…