2013.04.1801:28:59UTC+00Japan stocks sink, with chip-equipment makers down

Stocks in Japan dropped at the open Thursday, following a weak session for U.S. equities. The Nikkei Stock Average sank 132 points, or 1%, to 13,251.19, and the Topix submerged 0.9% to 1,125.388. With the yen strengthening in early trade, shares of automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. gave up 2% and 1.4%, respectively. Advantest Corp. missed 2% and Tokyo Electron skid 0.7% after the March book-to-bill ratio for Japanese chip-equipment makers came to 0.96, below the key 1.00-mark for the first time since November, according to the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan. The ratio was 1.17 in February. But gainers in the session included Japan Airlines Co., surged 1.1%, and All Nippon Airways, greater by 3.1%, following reports that a flight ban on Boeing Co.'s 787 passenger jet by U.S. regulators may be lifted as early as this month.