Tokyo's key Nikkei index ended lower Wednesday as the market was weighed down by a higher yen against the dollar and lacklustre earnings reports from some corporate giants.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.29 percent, or 79.01 points, to close at 27,606.46, while the broader Topix index added 0.03 percent, or 0.57 points, at 1,983.97.