Nikkei drops for 1st time in 4 days as investors opt for profits

TOKYO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended mixed Wednesday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index closing lower for the first time in four trading days as investors opted to secure gains, although losses were trimmed by the yen's fall against the U.S. dollar.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 61.79 points, or 0.26 percent, from Tuesday to close the day at 23,788.20.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, finished 2.82 points, or 0.15 percent, higher at 1,892.11.

Food and precision instrument issues led stocks that declined, while transportation equipment and real estate-linked issues comprised notable gainers by the close of play.