TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average dipped on Tuesday, slipping further away from a near-six-month peak touched last week, as political uncertainties around the world sapped investors' risk appetite.

Nikkei share average lost 0.20% to 23,051.08, inching away from its Friday peak of 23,338, its highest level since late February. The broader Topix ended up 0.06% at 1,610.85.

The Topix traded at 16.8 times profit forecast by analysts, near the highest level in a decade. Airline shares tumbled 1.7% after they reported weak passenger traffics during the "Obon" holiday period earlier this month due to a rise in domestic Covid-19 infections.

Banks fell 1% as US bond yields slipped while the yen's rise against the dollar hit exporters, including automakers that surged earlier this month.

Mazda Motor dropped 2.3%, while auto parts maker Denso shed 2.2%. Bucking the trend, the index of Mothers start-up shares climbed 3.4% to its highest level since October 2018, on buying by individual investors.