Japanese shares were flat by the lunch break on Wednesday as investors focused on early exit polls in a nail-biter US presidential election.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange gave up early gains to end the morning session down 0.11 percent, or 9.98 points, at 8,965.17.
The broader Topix of all first-section shares added 0.03 percent, or 0.23 points, to 745.11.

