[TOKYO] Japan's Nikkei share average edged down in thin trade on Wednesday as investors avoided investing in cyclical shares before big market events this week such as the European Central Bank's policy meeting and the release of US jobs data.

The Nikkei fell 0.4 per cent to 19,938.13.

The broader Topix was flat at 1,602.26 in choppy trade. Volume was subdued, with only 1.89 billion shares changing hands, lower than the 90-day average daily volume of 2.3 billion shares.

The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 dropped 0.1 per cent to 14,424.16.

REUTERS