Nikkei shares edges down

Japan`s Nikkei share average edged down in choppy trade on Tuesday morning, with cautious investors opting to stay on the sidelines before the US presidential election.

The Nikkei fell 0.2 per cent to 17,148.27 in mid-morning trade, after opening slightly higher.

Traders said investors were still on edge but sentiment could stabilise over the day on the likelihood Democrat Hillary Clinton will beat her Republican rival Donald Trump.

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings dropped 0.7 per cent and Takashimaya Co shed 1.4 per cent, while Kikkoman Corp slid 1.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, exporters were steady, with Toyota Motor Corp rising 1.0 per cent and Honda Motor Co gaining 0.4 per cent.

Some companies reporting earnings were under the spotlight. SoftBank Group Corp gained 2.2 per cent.

Nikon Corp rose as much as 2.5 per cent.

The broader Topix was flat at 1,362.74 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 was also flat at 12,211.01, according to a news agency report.