21.   An analyst said profit-taking activity which is expected in the next few days due to the sudden surge will dampen future sentiments.

22.   An overnight decline on Wall Street and a drop in Nikkei futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange also dampened sentiment, they said.

23.   An overnight drop on Wall Street as well as a fall in September futures prices on Monday in Tokyo also dampened market sentiments, traders said.

24.   An overnight fall on Wall Street also dampened sentiment in Asia.

25.   An overnight fall on Wall Street also dampened sentiment in Tokyo.

26.   Analysts also said overseas investment in Japanese stocks at the start of the new year has been lower than expected, dampening market sentiment.

27.   An overnight decline in the Dow Jones industrial average and weaker Nikkei index futures prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange dampened market sentiment, dealers said.

28.   An overnight slide on Wall Street also dampened sentiment in Tokyo.

29.   An overnight slip on Wall Street and lower futures prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange also dampened sentiment, traders said.

30.   Asian stock markets closed mostly lower Thursday, with share prices falling sharply in Tokyo as slumping construction issues dampened overall sentiment.