Tokyo stocks fall on profit-taking

TOKYO - Japanese shares declined in Tuesday morning trading as investors sold shares to lock in profits from recent gains.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 40.33 points, or 0.41 percent, to trade at 9,692.59 while the broader Topix index was down 0.69 points, or 0.08 percent, at 841.05.

Tokyo stocks rose more than one percent Monday, hitting a three-month high as better-than-expected employment data in the US boosted investor sentiment. The Nikkei was also up 4.6 percent last week.

On currency markets at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 81.10-14 yen, down slightly from Monday’s 5 p.m. quote of 81.19-21 yen.

The euro traded at $1.3859-3863, down from $1.3969-3970 Monday, and at 112.40-43 yen, down from 113.42-46 yen.