Nikkei drops on Ukraine anxiety, soft US manufacturing data

Gains in small-sized companies limi losses

Japan's Nikkei share average dropped on Tuesday as a weak US manufacturing survey and worries about the Ukraine crisis soured sentiment, though gains in small-sized companies limited the losses.

The benchmark Nikkei ended 0.4% lower at 14,423.19 in a choppy session, and remained below its 200-day moving average of 14,509.61.

The broader Topix gained 0.1% to 1,163.70, while the JPX-Nikkei Index 400, an index comprised of companies with a high return on equity and robust corporate governance, rose 0.1% to 10,531.93.