Tokyo Nikkei 225 up 0.16% at 38,633 points (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Tokyo , 20 Jun - Japanese shares reversed earlier losses and closed slightly higher in cautious trade, rising for a third day amid muted Asian markets.

In Tokyo stock market dealings blue chip stocks weighed.

Uncertainty about the Bank of Japan's policy path continued to keep sentiment in check, following recent signs of a rebound in Japanese inflation and improving wages.

The central bank last week left interest rates unchanged as widely expected but unexpectedly signalled no near-term changes to its bond buying program. It said it will unveil a plan to start cutting bond purchases at its next meeting at the end of July.

The Bank of Japan hiked rates for the first time in 17 years in March, bringing them out of negative territory.

The Nikkei index closed up 0.16% at 38,633 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 20-06-24 08:43:24 (0160) 5 NNNN