This file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Wednesday, snapping a 3-day winning streak, as caution over chasing the upside after the market's close at a 31-year high prompted investors to lock in gains in broader sectors.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 158.39 points, or 0.52 percent, from Tuesday at 30,511.71. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 22.48 points, or 1.06 percent, lower at 2,096.39. Both indexes ended Tuesday at their highest levels in 31 years.

       Every industry category lost ground, except for marine transportation issues. Major decliners were led by real estate and insurance issues.

       The U.S. dollar slightly fell to the mid-109 yen level following its weaker tone overnight on a drop in U.S. Treasury yields, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 109.43-45 yen compared with 109.63-73 yen in New York and 110.00-01 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1816-1817 and 129.31-35 yen against $1.1800-1810 and 129.43-53 yen in New York and $1.1824-1826 and 130.07-11 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.010 percentage point from Tuesday's close to 0.030 percent, as investors bought the safe-haven debt following the decline in Tokyo stocks. Bond yields move inversely to prices.

       Investors turned concerned that the market is becoming overheated after the Nikkei benchmark rose over 7 percent since Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's offer on Sept. 3 to resign at the end of the month, stirring hopes for a possible fresh stimulus under a new prime minister.

       Progress in Japan's COVID-19 vaccination efforts had also helped stocks reach a new high the previous day.

       "The market tracked declines on Wall Street, while investors locked in gains after the market rose too rapidly in the short-term following Suga's announcement less than two weeks ago," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co.

       But losses were limited as some market participants moved to buy undervalued shares, while sentiment was additionally supported by a brief rise in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, he added.

       Expectations also remain high for a stimulus package after the Sept. 29 presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which will effectively pick Suga's successor as premier, with official campaigning to start on Friday, brokers said.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,783 to 329, while 76 ended unchanged.

       Exporters were hit after the yen strengthened overnight against the U.S. dollar. Among automakers, Mazda Motor slumped 22 yen, or 2.2 percent, to 960 yen, and Nissan Motor fell 6.2 yen, or 1.1 percent, to 572.4 yen, while electronics manufacturer Panasonic tumbled 21.5 yen, or 1.5 percent, to 1,442.0 yen.

       Some of Apple Inc.'s parts suppliers tracked a fall in the tech giant's shares following its unveiling of the new iPhone 13, as investors had priced in the new features of its most recent product, brokers said.

       Murata Manufacturing slipped 285 yen, or 2.7 percent, to 10,235 yen, and Alps Alpine declined 29 yen, or 2.3 percent, to 1,251 yen.

       Park24 plunged 163 yen, or 7.9 percent, to 1,911 yen, after the parking lot operator reported Tuesday a net loss for the November-July period.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 1,205.72 million shares from Tuesday's 1,339.01 million shares.

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0