Tokyo stocks ended lower Wednesday following dips on Wall Street, as investors searched for new cues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 0.32 percent, or 90.33 points, to 28,140.28 while the broader Topix index closed 0.45 percent, or 8.85 points, lower at 1,973.83.

The dollar stood at 113.49 yen against 113.62 yen in New York late Tuesday.

The Nikkei index stayed under pressure with a dearth of fresh incentives as well as general inflation worries.

It popped into positive territory temporarily in late morning trade, as investors picked up bargains.

But the momentum for buybacks was short-lived, as investors went into wait-and-see mode ahead of the release of international economic indicators.

“With a lack of news, the Nikkei remained in a narrow range as investors waited for the release of the US inflation data” due later in the day, Okasan Online Securities said.

Among major shares, tech investor SoftBank Group eased 1.07 percent to 6,194 yen.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 0.85 percent to 655.4 yen. Nippon Steel dropped 2.23 percent to 1,925 yen.

Sony Group added 0.24 percent to 12,360 yen, while Uniqlo-operator Fast Retailing rose 0.60 percent to 71,540 yen.

AFP