New Delhi - India's benchmark Sensex fell by 4.84 per cent in early trade on Thursday, extending its losses for the seventh straight session on heavy selling by funds and investors tracking weak global cues.

The 30-share-sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange which has lost over 1,750 points over the last six sessions, fell by another 424.56 points to 8,349.22 after 90 minutes of trading up to 11:40 am (0610GMT).

Tokyo - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average plummeted nearly 7 per cent, below the 8,000 level, Thursday as investors' concerns mounted over the US economy, particularly the Big Three automakers' financial fate.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average tumbled 570.18 points, or 6.89 per cent, to close at 7,703.04.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also fell 45.15 points, or 5.46 per cent, to 782.28.

Manila  - Philippine share prices plunged 3.45 per cent on Thursday, dragged down by Wall Street's overnight losses as investors braced for a prolonged economic slump.

The 30-share composite of the Philippine Stock Exchange lost 65.85 points to close at 1,842.33 from Wednesday's finish of 1,908.18.

A total 552.06 million shares worth 1.38 billion pesos (28.16 million dollars) were traded.

Losers led gainers 96 to 12, while 22 issues were unchanged.

Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell below the 8,000 line on Thursday on concerns over the US economy.

The Nikkei index tumbled 357.59 points, or 4.32 per cent, to 7,915.63.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also lost 31.55 points, or 3.81 per cent, to 795.88.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 95.92-97 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 96.73-75 yen.

Hong Kong  - Hong Kong stocks opened more than 5 per cent lower Thursday, joining a regional downward spiral in share prices following heavy overnight losses on Wall Street.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index was down 690.71 points, or 5.39 per cent, in the first 10 minutes of trading Thursday, leaving the index at 12,125.09.

The losses come after the Dow Jones Index in the US fell 5 per cent overnight to close below 8,000 points, triggering falls in Asian markets including Australia, Japan and South Korea.