Nikkei closes mixed on caution over domestic firms' earnings

TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Nikkei closed mixed Tuesday as market took a cautious stance over the outlook for Japanese firms amid the earnings report season.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 9.46 points, or 0.11 percent, from Monday at 8,802.51. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 1.74 point, or 0.23 percent, lower at 755.27, its fourth straight day of decline.

Gainers included the miscellaneous products sector that includes game giant Nintendo, the land and sea transport sectors. Decliners included the oil and coal products, the iron and steel as well as the electricity and gas sectors.

The turnover was about 1,237 billion yen (about 16.23 billion U.S. dollars).