TOKYO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average received a boost from property and banking shares to edge higher on Tuesday, but investors waited to see Wall Street's reaction to news that Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs was again taking medical leave.
Brokers said a smaller drop in Shanghai shares after Monday's fall on China's latest move to fight inflation was also lifting investors' confidence.
But the Nikkei's gains were limited as a strong advance in real estate shares was offset by declines in steelmakers on a report by the Nikkei business daily that Nippon Steel Corp would likely fall short of its pretax profit forecast.
The benchmark Nikkei ended the day up 0.2 percent or 16.12 points at 10,518.98.
The broader Topix index rose 0.3 percent to 931.58. (Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Michael Watson)