Nikkei ends lower on profit taking after hitting 26-year high

TOKYO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Thursday as investors opted to take profits after the Nikkei index passed the 24,000 line for the first time in 26 years on Wall Street's solid lead overnight and the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 104.97 points, or 0.44 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 23,763.37.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 13.96 points, or 0.74 percent, to end at 1,876.86.

Insurance, chemical and bank-linked issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.