Akhir 27, 1432 / April 1, 2011, SPA -- Japanese stocks dropped Friday on growing concerns about radiation contamination at a nuclear power station in north-eastern Japan, as dpa reported. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 46.71 points, or 0.48 per cent, to close at 9,708.39 while the broader Topix index was down 6.76 points, or 0.78 per cent, at 862.62. For the week, the Nikkei was up 1.81 per cent while the Topix was up 0.61 per cent. The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station said high levels of radioactive materials were found overnight in groundwater below the station. The station was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami. Radiation found by turbine buildings adjacent to the plant's reactors and in a nearby trench has hindered work to restore the cooling functions of the six reactors at the station. Investors were also awaiting the release of US employment data scheduled for later in the day. Meanwhile, business sentiment among Japan's big manufacturers improved slightly, the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey showed Friday. The survey was closely watched, but the recommended deadline for the submissions was March 11 and, therefore, most did not reflect the impact of the disaster that struck that day. The business sentiment index for big manufacturers for the January-March period was up 1 point to plus 6, the first rise in two quarters, the central bank's survey showed. The index records the proportion of respondents who said they feel the business environment is good against those who said the reverse. The results of the survey are to be rereleased Monday to separate out responses given before and after the quake and tsunami, news reports said. On currency markets at 3 pm (0600 GMT), the dollar traded at 83.54-57 yen, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 82.83-85 yen. The euro traded at 1.4173-4177 dollars, down from 1.4185-4187 dollars Thursday, and at 118.42-49 yen, up from 117.50-54 yen.
