Japan: Stocks fall on profit-taking amid caution before ECB meeting

[TOKYO] Japanese stocks fell on Thursday in thin trade, giving up earlier gains as investors took profit ahead of a European Central Bank meeting later in the day that could shed light on its plans over further quantitative easing.

The Nikkei share average ended 0.6 per cent lower at 18,435.87.

The broader Topix shed 0.6 per cent to 1,518.22, with only 1.84 billion shares changing hands.

The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 declined 0.6 per cent to 13,590.55.

REUTERS