Tokyo stocks edge down as brokers fall

Tokyo, Mar 22: Japan's Nikkei average edged down on Wednesday (Mar 22, 2006) on profit-taking after a six-week closing high earlier in the week, with recent big gainers such as Nikko Cordial Corp. and rival brokerage firms taking a hit.

But Nissan Motor Co. rose after the world's No. 2 truck maker Volvo AB said on Tuesday it bought a 13 percent stake in Nissan Diesel Motor Co. from Nissan Motor for 1.5 billion Swedish crowns (5 million) to strengthen its Asian operations.

The Nikkei was down 0.33 percent at 16,570.59 as of 0004 GMT and the broader TOPIX index was down 0.04 percent at 1,688.18.

Reuters