Nikkei slips on profit-taking

Consequent 18-month highs were given up as traders preferred to book profits rather than extend positions further.

Japan8217;s Nikkei share average dipped 0.5 percent on Tuesday on profit-taking after successive days of 18-month highs on the benchmark,with exporters such as Canon Inc retreating as the yen regained ground after a recent slide.

The Nikkei fell 56.98 points to 11,282.32,pulling back from an 18-month intraday high of 11,408.17 hit on Monday.

The broader Topix index slipped 0.5 percent to 990.79.