Tokyo stocks end lower amid ongoing China, Middle East jitters

TOKYO (Kyodo) - Tokyo stocks ended lower Tuesday after flitting between positive and negative territory, with sentiment hit by continuing declines in Chinese equity markets and geopolitical concerns linked to the Middle East.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 76.98 points, or 0.42 per cent, from Monday at 18,374.00, a roughly 10-week closing low. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 4.96 points, or 0.33 per cent, lower at 1,504.71.

Agriculture and fishery, insurance and transport equipment issues led decliners.

Stocks opened lower, inheriting negative sentiment from hefty losses in European and US equity markets overnight.

The losses followed a stock sell-off across Asia from midmorning Monday as the private-sector Caixin purchasing managers' index showed a further decline in business conditions for Chinese manufacturers in December, dashing market expectations.

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