• The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.16 percent, or 34.95 points, to close at 21,375.25.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.16 percent, or 34.95 points, to close at 21,375.25, while the broader Topix index was down 0.01 percent, or 0.15 points, at 1,572.75.