Tokyo - Japan's stock market ended 6 per cent lower Thursday as renewed economic concerns wiped away gains brought a day earlier by Senator Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 622.1 points, or 6.53 per cent, to close at 8,899.14.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also lost 57.61 points, or 5.96 per cent, to 909.3.

On currency markets at midday (0300 GMT), the dollar traded at 98.07-12 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 99.37-38 yen.

Sydney - A big fall on Wall Street saw Australian stocks droop Thursday.

The ASX 200 gave up 186 points, or 4.2 per cent, to close at 4,149 as investors took their lead from the US market rather than an upbeat assessment of the global economy by Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner.

Manila - Philippine share p

Toky

Sydney - A big fall on Wall Street saw Australian stocks droop on the opening bell Thursday.

The ASX 200 gave up 171 points, almost 4 per cent, to 4,165 as investors took their lead from the US market rather than an upbeat assessment by Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner.