Nikkei 225 falls 1.2% at morning close, Topix down 0.4%

The gap between the Nikkei's 1.2% decline and the Topix's 0.4% drop points to weakness concentrated in the Nikkei's heavier, more export- and tech-leaning constituents rather than broad-based selling across the Japanese market. That distinction matters for anyone reading the move as a single sentiment signal: the narrower benchmark is doing most of the work. Whether the divergence persists through the afternoon session, or the Topix catches down to the Nikkei, is the open question worth watching.