Apple's announcement deterred investors from buying certain semiconductor-related stocks. But the New York market stabilized as a whole, and that is a big plus.

Even good earnings results from well-known names like Toyota Motor Corp aren't helping sentiment,

Many had bought high-techs on the back of a weaker yen. But a scenario of the yen's free fall doesn't seem realistic,

A deterioration in overseas demand may gradually affect the Japanese economy, like a body blow.

But a sour-loan solution remains elusive, the supplementary budget is unlikely to do much for the economy, and the future direction for Wall Street remains unclear.

There's uncertainty in the market and investors are looking to large-cap shares for relative safety.