Tokyo stocks end lower amid directionless trading ahead of holidays

TOKYO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Wednesday amid a lack of new trading incentives as many foreign investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the Christmas holidays.

The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 68.77 points, or 0.14 percent, from Tuesday at 50,344.10.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 15.88 points, or 0.46 percent, higher at 3,407.37.

On the stock market, the benchmark Nikkei initially stayed in positive territory, boosted by semiconductor issues tracking advances by their U.S. counterparts overnight, but later turned lower.

With U.S. markets closing early Wednesday and shut on Thursday, trading will remain subdued, analysts said.

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