Tokyo stocks ended lower Tuesday as some investors sold shares to pocket profits following early gains, while others sat on the sidelines ahead of key economic data due out later in the week.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 37.83 points, or 0.23 percent, to 16,265.76.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 8.85 points, or 0.55 percent, to 1,598. 89.

The Nikkei opened higher and stayed in positive territory throughout the morning after a strong rebound in U.S. shares overnight, but it lost steam in the afternoon to close slightly lower.

Mizuho Financial Group was the most heavily traded issue in value terms, falling 18,000 yen to 829,000 yen.

Nippon Steel was the volume leader, up 6 yen to 534 yen.

On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancing ones 1,168 to 429, with 110 shares ending unchanged.

Trading volume on the main section increased to 1,838.98 million shares from Monday's 1,678.21 million.

The TSE's Second Section index was up 0.11 point, or 0.00 percent, to 4,105.03 on a volume of 51.00 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term December Nikkei 225 index futures contract tacked on 50 points to 16,290.

Source: Xinhua