Tokyo---Tokyo's Nikkei index slipped 0.10 percent Tuesday after high-stakes debt talks between Greece and its eurozone creditors ended without a deal, raising the possibility the country could leave the eurozone.
The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange slipped 17.68 points to finish at 17,987.09, while the Topix index of all first-section shares edged up 0.18 percent, or 2.64 points, to 1,462.07.
The meeting Monday of eurozone finance ministers broke down after Athens refused demands that it apply for an extension to its bailout. This raised the prospect Greece would run out of cash and default, forcing it to leave the currency bloc.
Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem said the country had the rest of the week to make the request, with its 240 billion euro lifeline expiring at the end of the month.
Greece's new left-led government came to power last month on a platform of overhauling the terms of the austerity-laden financial aid package, which it says has crippled the economy.
However the 18 other eurozone nations, led by Germany, say any changes must be within the current programme.
"Because the discussions didn't go well in Greece, those concerns are pulling the market down," Naoki Fujiwara, chief fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management, told Bloomberg News.
"However, people have hopes that there's a safety net for Greece and it won't default. They'll compromise someway. So there's buying on dips."
Fast Retailing, operator of the Uniqlo clothing chain, fell 1.27 percent to 43,505.0 yen, Japan Tobacco retreated 1.75 percent to 3,660.0 yen and factory robotics giant Fanuc rose 0.96 percent to close at 22,605.0 yen.
In forex markets, the breakdown in Greek debt talks weighed on the euro. It sank to $1.1323 and below 134 yen at one point before recovering to $1.1358 and to 134.70 yen. US markets were closed Monday for a public holiday.
The dollar bought 118.51 yen compared with 118.47 yen in London late Monday.
AFP
