TOKYO, June 16 (Reuters) - Japan's benchmark Nikkei index ended lower on Wednesday as chip-related stocks tracked overnight weakness in U.S. peers, although hopes for a vaccine-driven domestic economic recovery lifted cyclical shares.
The Nikkei share average fell 0.51% to close at 29,291.01, while the broader Topix ticked up 0.02% to 1,975.86, supported by Toyota Motor as the automaker hit another record high.
"Many investors are holding their bets as they await the outcome of the Federal Reserve meeting, but cyclical stocks that are set to benefit in the post-pandemic era are solid," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities.
Wall Street's all three major indexes dropped overnight as markets awaited fresh guidance from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Following declines in the Philadelphia Semiconductor index, chipmaking equipment supplier Tokyo Electron fell 1.1% and semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest ticked down 0.19%.
But shares of energy, material and shipping companies advanced.
Among them, Japan's biggest oil and gas explorer Inpex jumped 3.7% as oil prices hit their highest in more than two years.
Hopes for an economic reopening lifted department store shares, with Takashimaya jumping 2.07% and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings edging up 0.24%.
Conglomerate Hitachi and air-conditioner maker Daikin Industries also supported the Topix by rising 2.48% and 2.22%, respectively.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha gained 4.94% and was the top gainer on the Nikkei, followed by CyberAgent, which added 3.99%.
The largest loser was Unitika, falling 3.38%, followed by GS Yuasa, losing 3.2%, and Sony Group , down 2.86%.
The volume of shares traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's main board was 1.03 billion, compared with the average of 1.18 billion in the past 30 days.
The Mothers Index of start-up firm shares fell for the first time in eight days, losing 0.13%.
(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Aditya Soni)
