(Updates at 0600 GMT)
TOKYO, June 12 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average
fell on Wednesday, dragged down by losses in some market
heavyweights including Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ), as caution prevailed
ahead of U.S. and Japanese central bank policy decisions.
The Nikkei ended 0.66% lower at 38,876.71 after two
straight sessions of gains. The broader Topix slipped
0.73% to 2,756.44.
"Only a handful of large technology stocks led overnight
gains of two main indexes in the United States. So, market
players were not actively buying large varieties of Japanese
stocks today," said Shuutarou Yasuda, a market analyst at Tokai
Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq registered record closing highs for a
second straight session on Tuesday, helped by a more than 7%
gain in Apple ( AAPL ) shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average,
however, inched lower 0.31%.
Market players were awaiting a key U.S. inflation reading
and updated Federal Reserve interest rate projections due later
in the day for further direction.
The Bank of Japan will conclude its two-day policy meeting
on Friday, where it is expected to keep interest rates steady
and consider whether to offer clearer guidance on how it plans
to reduce its huge balance sheet.
Uniqlo brand owner Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) fell 2.45% to
drag the Nikkei the most. Staffing agency Recruit Holdings ( RCRRF )
lost 2.95%. Chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron ( TOELF )
slipped 0.17%.
Meanwhile, suppliers of Apple ( AAPL ) rose. TDK jumped
4.35% to become the biggest support for the Nikkei, while Murata
Manufacturing ( MRAAF ) and Taiyo Yuden ( TYOYF ) climbed 2.63%
and 1.71%, respectively.
Of the 225 components of the Nikkei, 51 stocks rose and 170
fell, with four flat.
(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)