Nikkei ends flat

Japan8217;s Nikkei average held on to gains on Wednesday after hitting a seven-month closing high the day before,with a subdued economic statement from the Federal Reserve despite strong US retail sales for November prompting investors to snap up profits.

The Nikkei stayed almost unchanged as the results of the Bank of Japan8217;s latest tankan survey,which showed sentiment among big manufacturers worsened for the first time in seven quarters,came in line with the market8217;s expectations.

The benchmark Nikkei slipped from a seven-month closing high hit on Tuesday,shedding 6.99 points to 10,309.78.

The broader Topix index gained 0.06 per cent to 902.42.