Tokyo - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average recovered the 8,000 level Wednesday morning after it hit a 26-year low the day before.

The Nikkei index surged 416.14 points, or 5.46 per cent, to 8,038.06.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 98.20-25 yen, up from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 94.54-56 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.2805-10 dollars, up from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 1.2476-78 dollars, and at 125.78-83 yen, up from 117.95-99 yen. dpa