Tokyo - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average hit a six-month low Wednesday after renewed anxiety over the US financial sector dragged down US shares.

The Nikkei fell in morning trading by 131.11 points, or 1.06 per cent, to 12,269.54. The index ended the previous day's session down 223.81 points.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 7.41 points, or 0.62 per cent, at 1,184.18 after it finished the previous day's trading down 24.82 points.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 106.95-107.00 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 107.78-81 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.4092-97 dollars, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 1.4121-24 dollars, and at 150.85-90 yen, down from 152.23-27 yen. (dpa)