Japan stock market week to March 2, 2009

Tokyo experienced a losing streak for the third week in the review  period ended March 2. The Nikkei 225 was off 1.3%, closing at the 7,200  level, while the Topix index inched down 0.1%. The first four sessions  saw relatively firm movement backed by the weaker yen against major  currencies, which encouraged investors to buy back export-oriented  issues. However, the market nose-dived on the last trading day amid  pessimism regarding the global economic outlook and the financial  industry in the USA, with New York markets sinking to historic lows.  Active early-week purchasing was reportedly related to establishment of  some investment trust funds and moves for "window-dressing" by  investment funds trying to make their portfolios look favorable at the  end of the financial year. The pharmaceutical index dropped 3.9%,  underperforming the market.