TOKYO, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed lower on Tuesday, tracking the downward trend of major indices on Wall Street amid selling to lock in gains.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 16.09 points, or 0.04 percent, from Monday to close the day at 40,398.03.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 3.16 points, or 0.11 percent, higher at 2,780.80.

Market watchers here noted that profit-taking selling pressure was observed on leading stocks in the overnight U.S. market, causing major stock indices such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average to decline. The sentiment weighed on the Tokyo market, leading to selling of stocks such as Fast Retailing as well.

On the Prime Market, decliners were land transportation, oil and coal product, and pulp and paper issues.

Issues that advanced outpaced those that declined by 868 to 734, while 53 ended the day unchanged.