TOKYO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower on Thursday, reversing earlier gains amid uncertainty over the outlook for the Middle East conflict.
The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 145.97 points, or 0.27 percent, from Wednesday at 53,603.65. The broader Topix index finished 8.19 points, or 0.22 percent, lower at 3,642.80.
On the top-tier Prime Market, insurance, electric appliances, banks, and glass and ceramics product issues were among the notable decliners.
Tokyo stocks opened higher, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, buoyed by expectations for talks between the United States and Iran to end the conflict that broke out at the end of February.
However, both the Nikkei and Topix fell into negative territory, weighed down by profit-taking after the Nikkei rose more than 2,200 points over the past two days.
Analysts said uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East was making investors reluctant to take new positions, noting that while the bigger picture appeared to be improving, a sense of caution remained. ■
