Tokyo - Japanese stocks fell Thursday as investors sold mainly export-oriented issues while uncertainties spread over the US government's bail-out package that passed the Senate earlier in the day.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average sank 213.5 points, or 1.88 per cent, to close at 11,154.76.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also sagged 24.16 points, or 2.19 per cent, to 1,076.97.

The Tokyo market opened strong with investors buying back shares that had seen recent declines, but it fell into negative territory after the US Senate passed the 700-billion-dollar rescue package to stabilize financial markets.

For the 12th consecutive business day, Japan's central bank injected 1.6 trillion yen (15.09 billion dollars) into the money markets to ease a credit crunch and disruptions in financial markets.

The total amount of liquidity infused by the Bank of Japan came to 23.9 trillion yen since the US investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc filed for bankruptcy on September 15.

On currency markets at midday (0300 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 105.75-80 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 106.28-29 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.3973-78 dollars, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 1.4127-28 dollars, and at 147.80-85 yen, down from 150.15-19 yen. (dpa)