Nikkei slips but marks best month in a year; U.S.-China tensions weigh

By Tomo Uetake
TOKYO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average had the
best month in a year although it fell on Monday after news that
the U.S. administration is considering delisting Chinese
companies from U.S. exchanges.
Analysts said Japanese shares are generally more sensitive
to China's economic performance than U.S. counterparts.
The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 declined 0.6% to
21,755.84, its lowest close in 2-1/2 weeks. For the month,
however, it gained 5.1% to mark its best monthly performance
since September 2018.
The broader Topix index .TOPX dipped 1.0% to 1,587.80,
with all but one of its 33 subindexes trading in negative
territory. It also advanced 5.0% in September, making it the
best month in nearly two years.
Risk assets took a hit in U.S. trade on Friday following
news that the administration of President Donald Trump is
considering new financial pressure tactics on China, including
the possibility of delisting Chinese companies from U.S. stock
exchanges. The report knocked Chinese shares listed on U.S. exchanges,
with Alibaba Group Holding BABA.N slumping 5.2% on Friday.
Japan's SoftBank Group 9984.T , which is Alibaba's largest
shareholders, shed 2.6% on the news and dragged down the
benchmark Nikkei.
On Tokyo's bourse, electric and gas .IEPNG.T , air
transport .IAIRL.T and mining .MING.T were the worst three
performers of the Topix's subindexes, down 3.1%, 2.6% and 2.6%
respectively.
Kansai Electric Power Co Inc 9503.T continued to dive,
shedding 8.0%, after the utility's President Shigeki Iwane on
Friday said he and 19 employees, including other executives,
received payments and gifts worth 320 million yen ($3 million)
from "a person outside the company". Elsewhere, Unizo Holdings Co Ltd 3258.T jumped 6.8% after
the hotel operator withdrew support for a $1.3 billion takeover
bid by Fortress Investment Group - backed by SoftBank Group Corp
9984.T - saying it wanted better terms, heightening the
possibility of a higher offer price. = 107.9300 yen)

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Trump considers delisting Chinese firms from U.S. markets
-sources Electric president apologises for payments scandal
Unizo withdraws support for $1.3 bln takeover bid by
Softbank-backed Fortress ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
(Editing by Christopher Cushing & Shri Navaratnam)