The Nikkei share average slid 2 percent on Monday as tech firms such as Advantest Corp. fell on a decline in the dollar and after U.S. shares were battered during Wall Street's biggest loss in nearly three years. Internet stocks such as Softbank Corp. fell on the lingering effects of an investigation by prosecutors into Livedoor Co. on suspicion that the Internet portal gave incorrect information to investors. Reports of the investigation emerged last week and triggered a heavy sell-off, forcing the Tokyo bourse to shorten trading hours since Wednesday to avoid a system collapse. A report on Monday by Daiwa Institute of Research about the likelihood of Livedoor being delisted also fueled a sell-off of small-cap stocks by individual investors, who have been behind gains in Japanese shares since late last year. The report was followed by Japanese media saying late on Monday that prosecutors were questioning Livedoor chief executive Takafumi Horie. "It's hard to be optimistic so soon," said Fumiyuki Nakanishi, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities. "If Livedoor is delisted, that would have a big impact on individual investors. A shock wave would linger as they are now the market leaders," he said. The Nikkei fell 2.14 percent or 336.04 points to 15,360.65, a hair above a five-week closing low of 15,341.18 marked on Jan 18. The broader TOPIX index was down 2.25 percent at 1,587.90. Analysts said investors were holding back ahead of quarterly earnings reports, which are to peak later this month. Such manufacturers as Advantest, Sony Corp. and NEC Corp are among firms to announce quarterly earnings later this week. "Unlike disappointing earnings in the U.S., those in Japan do not look so bad. But investors are basically taking a wait-and-see attitude," said Nobuki Goto, general manager of investment research at Tokio Marine Asset Management. He said investors are focused on whether steel and auto makers will produce the strong earnings reports that are expected. "I expect the Nikkei to move in a boxed range of between around 15,000 and 15,500 for the time being," Goto said.