Nikkei 225 index flat on Monday amid New Year holidays in China

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average traded flat on Monday's rather silent trading session amid Chinese New Year holidays. Nikkei 225 finished 0.01% or 0.46 points down at 8,765.90. On the upside index was supported by export-oriented companies with Sony Corp. surging 4%, Mazda Motor Corp. adding 1.6% and Casio Computer Co. gaining 1.7%. Olympus Corp. rallied 8.1% after the company avoided delisting from Tokyo Stock Exchange. On the downside was Panasonic Corp. which edged down 1.4% after Moody's reduced firm's debt rating.