Tokyo Nikkei 225 down 2.36%, S&P ASX 200 down 0.27% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Tokyo , 18 Jul - Asian shares closed mostly lower in cautious trade, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down 0.63%, further retreating from a more than two-year high.

In Asian stock market dealings technology shares led the losses as chipmakers sank on concerns over US-China trade as well as on profit taking after a recent rally.

According to a Bloomberg report, the US is considering slapping stricter trade restrictions if companies including Tokyo Electron and ASML continue supplying chip technology to the country.

Increased speculation over a a second term for Donald Trump also kept sentiment in check after the US Republican presidential candidate said in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek that Taiwan should pay the US for defense.

Japanese shares closed sharply lower, leading the losses in the region.

The yen hit a six-week high against the dollar following suspected interventions by Tokyo.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped from fresh all-time highs hit yesterday as stronger-than-expected labor market figures rekindled concerns over higher interest rates in the country.

The Nikkei index closed down 2.36% at 40,126 points, in Sydney the S&P ASX 200 closed down 0.27% at 8,036 points, while in Seoul the KOSPI closed down 0.68% at 2,824 points.

The Shanghai Composite index was up 0.37% at 2,973 points and the Hong Kong Hang Seng index was up 0.64% at 17,853 points.

In Mumbai the Sensex index slid 0.26% to 80,505 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 18-07-24 08:59:00 (0186) 5 NNNN