When IT (information technology) issues and other large-cap issues are down, the Nikkei cannot help but suffer.

If the successor is somebody else (besides Koizumi), that would be little help for stocks.

Speculation mounted for a cut in Toshiba's earnings forecast, and the stock's fall sent other major electronics makers lower.

When core stocks like NTT perform strongly, it really lifts the sprit of the entire market.

The Nasdaq gains gave a gentle nudge higher to a market that was ready for a rebound after last week's losing spell.

The selling will likely ease this month, but strong buying won't return for a while longer -- as long as U.S. markets are down.