The Nikkei average ended a three-day winning streak today by sliding 0.66 per cent in quiet trade as exporters lost ground on continued concern about the outlook for the key US market.
Nikko Cordial jumped more than 6 per cent after the Tokyo Stock Exchange said yesterday it would not delist the brokerage due to an accounting scandal.
That surprise decision by the exchange could force US bank Citigroup to sweeten its buyout offer for Japan's third-largest securities firm.
The Nikkei fell 113.55 points to 17,178.84. The broad Topix index fell 0.91 per cent to 1,725.43.