Tokyo's benchmark stock index closed slightly down on Tuesday after setting record highs on two successive trading days.

The Nikkei 225 ended at 40,097. It lost 11 points or 0.03 percent from Monday's close, which is the highest ever.

Investors unloaded shares of semiconductor-related and other firms to lock in profits. But they bought some back later on expectations of a further rise.

Late last month the Nikkei Stock Average broke a long-standing record set in 1989 during Japan's asset-inflated bubble economy.

The benchmark has continued climbing since then, hitting fresh record highs four more times. So far this year it has gained 20 percent.