TOKYO, Feb 5 (Reuters): Japan's Nikkei share average dipped on Thursday on news of the European Central Bank's hardline stance on Greek debt and fresh falls in oil prices, while investors took profits in Toyota and some others after their unsurprising earnings.
Hitachi dived more than 10 per cent after its earnings failed to meet investors' high expectations, although Sony jumped more than 10 per cent after forecasting smaller losses.
The Nikkei share average dropped 0.6 per cent to 17,577.23, turning negative on the week. Many market participants say few investors have appetite to buy the Nikkei above 17,500 and towards 18,000 noting that its valuation is hardly cheap.
Hurting sentiment was an abrupt move by the European Central Bank (ECB) to stop accepting Greek government bonds as collateral for funding in what many saw as retaliation for the Greek government abandoning its aid-for-reform programme.
Oil prices crashed on Wednesday, with US crude losing 9 per cent, dashing hopes that oil prices are finallybottoming out after many months of decline.
Investors are also taking profits following earnings announcements.
Toyota Motor fell 1.7 per cent after the carmaker lifted its operating profit guidance in a widely expected move.
"The consensus view is pricing in pretty strong earnings. If earnings come in line with expectations, the shares will face profit-taking," said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.
One of the biggest movers among large-cap shares was Hitachi, which fell as much as 11.4 per cent after the company did not raise its annual profit estimate despite expectations it would do so.
By contrast Sony rose as much as 11.7 per cent after it said its net annual loss will likely be smaller than previously forecast on cost cuts and strong sales of its image sensors and PlayStation video game consoles.
Nikon due to publish earnings later in the day.
The broader Topix fell 0.6 per cent while the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 dropped 0.8 per cent.
