Nikkei slips but on track for best month in a year; U.S.-China trade tensions weigh

TOKYO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is on
track for its best month in a year though it fell on Monday
after news that the U.S. administration is considering delisting
Chinese companies from U.S. exchanges.
The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 declined 0.5% to
21,780.20 by the midday break, but at 5.2% higher for the month,
it is heading for its best monthly performance since September
2018.
The broader Topix index .TOPX dipped 0.8% to 1,591.46 with
all but two of its 33 subindexes trading in negative territory.
It has nevertheless advanced 5.3% so far in September, putting
it on track for its 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. Analysts said Japanese shares are generally more sensitive
to China's economic performance than U.S. counterparts.
On Tokyo's bourse, electric and gas .IEPNG.T , mining
.MING.T and air transport .IAIRL.T were the worst three
performers of the Topix's subindexes, down 2.7%, 1.7% and 1.7%
respectively.
Kansai Electric Power Co Inc 9503.T continued to dive,
shedding 6.9%, 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 4.8% 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 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>