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.

New York - US markets fell Tuesday pushed down by financial and energy stocks on concerns about capital at investment bank Lehman Brothers Holding Inc and falling oil prices.

Lehman reached a near 10-year low after talks to sell a stake to Korea Development Bank collapsed.

An index of energy shares fell 6.4 per cent as oil shares fell to 103.26 dollars a barrel as Saudi Arabia said supplies would meet demand, Bloomberg financial news reported.

Indian stock markets are likely to remain range bound in today’s trading session.

After opening with a gain of 494.41 points, at 14,978.24 on Monday (Sep 08), the market traded in a range bound manner all through the day.

At last, the BSE Sensex ended the day at 14,944.97, up 461.14 points, after hitting a high of 15,107.01 and a low of 14,917.06. The broad-based NSE Nifty gained 130 points at 4,482.30 after touching a high of 4,558 and a low of 4,358.30.

Indian equities gained on a positive note on Monday (Sep 08) after shedding some of its gains during the late trade.

The bulls were back in action and recovered 15,000 mark again. Heavy buying action was witnessed in midcap and smallcap stocks.

The BSE barometer, which lost 415.27 points during the previous trading session (Friday, Sep 05), opened with a gain of 494.41 points, at 14,978.24 on Monday getting Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) waiver on nuclear energy for civilian purpose from the US.

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened lower Tuesday as investors sold shares to lock in profits from the previous day's gains.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 185.43 points, or 1.47 per cent, in morning trading to 12,439.03.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 21.44 points, or 1.76 per cent, to 1,194.97.

Tokyo players sold shares to reap profits from Monday's rises when the Tokyo indices shot up more than 3 per cent on the US government taking control of the two largest US mortgage lenders and guarantors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.