TOKYO, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Wednesday, amid caution about the impact of a partial shutdown of the U.S. government and investors locking in gains.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended 381.78 points, or 0.85 percent, from Tuesday at 44,550.85, falling for a fourth consecutive trading day.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 42.86 points, or 1.37 percent, lower at 3,094.74.
Stocks lacked trading incentives as investors grew cautious about a U.S. government shutdown, which would lead to delays in the release of economic data and leave the Federal Reserve with few clues to decide whether to further cut interest rates, dealers said.
The market was also weighed down by investors locking in gains and unloading shares to adjust their positions at the start of the second half of the fiscal year in Japan. ■
