Nikkei edges lower, Europe debt crisis moves eyed

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 <AAPL.O> Chief Executive Steve Jobs would take medical leave for the third time since 2004. [ID:nSGE70G0AY]

The benchmark Nikkei <.N225> was down 0.3 percent or 34.84 points at 10,466.98.

The broader Topix index <.TOPX> edged 0.2 percent lower to 926.42. (Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)