Tokyo: Nikkei slips as yen rebounds, China trade data disappoints

[TOKYO] Japan's Nikkei share average gave up early gains and slipped on Thursday as the yen clawed back ground it had lost to the US dollar, with sentiment further undercut by China's weak trade numbers.

Chinese exports in September dropped by a sharper-than-expected 10 per cent from a year earlier.

The US dollar skidded 0.4 per cent to 103.73 yen, moving away from its Wednesday high of 104.49 yen, which was its highest level since late July.

The Nikkei slipped 0.4 per cent to end at 16,774.24, moving away from last Friday's five-week highs.

The broader Topix finished flat at 1,342.31.

The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 edged down 0.1 per cent to 12,007.59.

REUTERS