Tokyo stocks end mixed on nuclear concerns, bargain-hunting+

TOKYO, March 28 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Tokyo stocks ended mixed Monday, pressured by pessimism about the nuclear crisis at a quake-stricken nuclear power plant while investors' bargain-hunting provided some support.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 57.60 points, or 0.60 percent, from Friday to 9,478.53. But the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 0.47 points, or 0.05 percent, to 857.85.

The air transport sector led decliners, followed by the real estate and electric and gas sectors. Gainers included the iron and steel, transport equipment, and oil and coal products sectors.

Stocks remained under pressure as Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the crippled plant in Fukushima Prefecture, announced early Monday that the concentration of radioactive substances in a pool found at a reactor was 100,000 times higher than usual for water in a reactor core.

The news raised investor concern that it would hinder Japan's efforts to regain control of its troubled reactors as well as fears that the contaminated water may further pollute food and water supplies, brokers said.

But the downside was supported because investors were reluctant to make major moves as the end of the fiscal year approaches, they said, adding that foreign investors continued to pick up Japanese shares, perceiving them to be at an over-sold level.