/www.fxserver.com/ TOKYO (AP) -- Tokyo stocks slipped Wednesday morning as investors appeared to have largely factored in expectations that the war in Iraq was nearing an end. The dollar was slightly higher against the Japanese yen.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 22.92 points, or 0.28 percent, to 8,108.49 in morning trading. The index dropped 118.57 points, or 1.44 percent, on Tuesday.
The dollar was trading at 119.82 yen at 11 a.m., up 0.14 yen from 119.68 late Tuesday in Tokyo and also above the 119.79 yen it bought in late New York trading.
The blue chip index finished a meandering morning session in negative territory as investors looked past recent news reports suggesting the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq was moving toward victory, traders said.
The market's focus appeared to have shifted to the uncertain implications of peace and reconstruction for the global economy, they said.
The broader Tokyo Stock Price Index fell 0.38 points, or 0.05 percent, to 802.62 in morning trading. The TOPIX fell 7.96 points, or 0.98 percent, on Monday.
The euro bought $1.0739, up from $1.0685 late Tuesday in Tokyo. Against the yen, the euro traded at 128.74 yen, up from 127.92 yen.
The yield on Japan's benchmark 10-year government bond fell to 0.6950 percent from 0.7200 percent at Tuesday's close. Its price rose 0.23 to 99.95.