Nikkei ends down, but not far from near three-decade highs in dollar terms

* Market down on profit-taking ahead of holidays
* Nikkei ends 2019 up 18.2%, Topix gains 15.2%
* Dollar-converted Nikkei at 216.8, near 28-year peak
* Geopolitical tensions in northeast Asia, Middle East weigh

By Hideyuki Sano
TOKYO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks ended slightly
lower on the last trading day of the year as investors booked
profits ahead of New Year holidays, although the Nikkei average
held near three-decade highs in dollar terms.
The Nikkei share average .N225 fell 0.76% to 23,656.62 on
Monday, further from a 14-month peak of 24,091 hit about two
weeks ago. The broader Topix .TOPX lost 0.68% to 1,721.36.
The Nikkei in dollar terms, a more important gauge for
foreign investors, stood at 216.80, near a peak of around 220
hit this month and not far from a 28-year high hit in 2018.
"There are two possibilities here. We could see fresh buying
after a break of the previous high. Or investors could sell into
rally," said Shuji Hosoi, senior strategist at Daiwa Securities.
"At the moment, it is too early to say which direction the
market is going."
As Japanese financial markets will be closed from Tuesday
through Friday to reopen on Monday, Jan. 6, many market players
were eager to close their positions for now.
On the year, the Nikkei was up 18.2% after a 12% drop in
2018, while the Topix was 15.2% higher after shedding nearly 18%
in 2018.
A broad range of shares fell, with all but one of the Tokyo
Stock Exchange's 33 industry subindexes in the negative
territory.
Some said market sentiment was also hurt by rising political
tensions in North East Asia and violence in the Middle East.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at a ruling party meeting,
called for "positive and offensive measures" to ensure security
ahead of a year-end deadline he has set for denuclearisation
talks with the United States. The U.S. military carried out air strikes in Iraq and Syria
on Sunday against Iran-backed militia group, while Turkey plans
to send troops to support Libya's government that has been
struggling to fend off a months-long offensive by General
Khalifa Haftar's forces in eastern Libya.
Many technology shares took the brunt of profit-taking with
Fanuc 6954.T down 1.8%, Shin-etsu Chemical 4063.T shedding
1.3% and Honda Motor 7267.T losing 1.2%.
Among others, Adastria 2685.T dropped 6.8% after the
casual clothing shop operator's quarterly earnings and profit
guidance for the year ending in February fell short of market
expectations.
Parco 8251.T rose 10% to near the tender price offered by
J. Front Retailing 3086.T , which announced a plan to wholly
own the company last week.
Leopalace21 8848.T climbed 0.9% after activist investors
requested the scandal-tainted apartment builder sack all of its
10 board members.

(Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Himani Sarkar)