Japan shares off 0.28pc by the close

TOKYO: Japanese stocks were 0.28 percent lower by on Wednesday's close, despite gains on Wall Street, as investors fretted about Spain's banking system.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange gave up 23.89 points to end at 8,633.19, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares was down 0.47 percent, or 3.41 points, at 723.62.