Tokyo - Stocks in Tokyo lost ground Tuesday due to profit taking after initially rising to a five-month high.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 30.41 points, or 0.31 per cent, to close at 9,797.10 while the broader Topix index was down 3.79 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 847.77.
Shares in export-oriented companies were boosted by a weakening of the yen against the dollar.
On currency markets at noon (0300 GMT), the dollar traded at 82.92-95 yen, up from Monday's 5 pm quote of 82.81-82 yen.
The euro traded at 1.3618-21 dollars, down from 1.3665-66 dollars Monday, and at 112.92-95 yen, down from 113.16-20 yen.
A weaker yen makes Japanese goods more competitive abroad and improves overseas earnings when the revenues are repatriated.
