Nikkei flat as profit-taking follows rally

(Updates to midmorning)

TOKYO, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average remained virtually flat on Wednesday, as investors locked in profits after the index climbed above the key 17,000 level for the first time in eight weeks in the previous session.

Nikko Cordial Corp was untraded as it was flooded with buy orders after Citigroup said it would buy out minority shareholders in the Japanese brokerage by giving Citigroup shares with an expected value of 1,700 yen per Nikko ...