TOKYO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average edged lower as uncertainty grew over whether a European finance ministers meeting would do enough to tackle the region's debt crisis and after Shanghai shares slumped a day earlier on China's latest move to fight inflation.
Sentiment was also hurt after U.S. stock futures were knocked sharply lower by the news Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs would take medical leave for the third time since 2004.
The benchmark Nikkei was down 0.3 percent or 34.84 points at 10,466.98.
The broader Topix index edged 0.2 percent lower to 926.42. (Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)