Tracking broad declines on Wall Street overnight, Japanese stocks closed significantly lower on Thursday, logging a three-day losing streak.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 plummeted 420.26 points, or 2.6%, to 15,661.99, the lowest closing level in a month..
Markets in Hong Kong and Shanghai remained closed for a holiday
The moves came as the yen advanced against the U.S dollar, which bought ¥108.84, compared with ¥109.07 a day earlier, dragging export-related stocks sharply lower.
Auto makers were hard hit, with Honda Motor Co., Ltd. sinking 4.2%, Mazda Motor Corp.skidding 3.9%, Toyota Motor Corp declining 3.5%, and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. losing 2.3%.
Airlines were also heavy losers, as leading carrier ANA Holdings Inc. dived 4.8%, and rival Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. fell 4.6%.
Among electronics giants, Panasonic Corp. dropped 3.7% and Hitachi Ltd. gave up 3.4%. Toshiba Corp. and Sony Corp. each finished 3.3% lower, and Sharp Corp. lost 2.9%.
In other markets;
In Korea, the Kospi index dropped 15.38 points, or 0.8%, to 1,976.16
The Taiex index in Taiwan slid 15.07 points, or 0.2%, to 8,975.19
In Singapore, the Straits Times STI Index dipped 35.38 points, or 1.1%, to 3,228.71
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 faded 29.35 points, or 0.6%, to 5,245.24
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed 36.43 points, or 0.7%, to 5,297.71
