Tokyo stocks edge down as Softbank retreats

TOKYO, Mar 7 (Reuters) The Nikkei share average edged down on Tuesday after a fall in US shares and as profit-taking hit recent gainers such as Softbank Corp, whose shares had risen on hopes of mobile phone business expansion.

The Nikkei was down 0.36 percent or 56.71 points at 15,844.45 as of 0005 GMT. It rose 1.52 percent on Monday, its first rise in four sessions. The broader TOPIX index was down 0.29 percent at 1,621.68.

REUTERS VJ RAI0554