Nikkei drops 1 pct, Nikko woes drag down brokerages

TOKYO, Dec 19 (Reuters) The Nikkei lost 1.09 percent on Tuesday, snapping its six-session winning streak, as accounting problems at Nikko Cordial Corp. discouraged investors from picking up brokerage stocks while investors took profits in recent gainers such as property shares.

The market brushed off the Bank of Japan's decision to keep interest rates unchanged but attention is now focusing on the news conference by the BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui at 3:30 p.m.

(0630 GMT).

The Nikkei declined 185.23 points to 16,776.88, after having added more than 500 points in the last six sessions. The broad TOPIX index fell 1.20 percent to 1,645.40.

REUTERS CS DS1216