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| - Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index dropped more than 2.8 percent on Thursday as investors cashed in following recent gains. The Nikkei 225 index fell 2.82 percent, or 652.04 points, to close at 22,472.91, while the broader Topix index was down 2.20 percent, or 35.79 points, to 1,588.92. Tokyo shares opened lower on profit-taking after Wall Street stocks finished mostly down Wednesday, as the Federal Reserve vowed to keep interest rates low due to the shaky economic outlook. Selling pressure increased in late trading following a decline in US stock index futures, brokers said. "It's natural to see players adjusting their positions following the recent surge," said Yoshihiro Okumura, general manager at Chibagin Asset Management. "Stocks rose on hopes for fiscal and monetary measures, but it is true that the real economy has yet to show a strong recovery," Okumura told AFP. The dollar fetched 107.18 yen in Asian afternoon trade, against 107.15 yen in New York on Wednesday. In Tokyo, exporters were among losers, with Toyota down 2.66 percent at 6,905 yen and Canon off 3.32 percent at 2,269.5 yen. Banks were also lower with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial losing 4.92 percent to 445.9 yen and Sumitomo Mitsui down 3.48 percent at 3,210 yen. si/sah/fox
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