Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost more than 3 per cent Tuesday after Wall Street tumbled overnight, hitting a three-week intraday low.

The Nikkei index plunged 303.26 points, or 3.09 per cent, to 9,523.01 as investors sold export-oriented issues following the yen's advance against the US dollar. The stronger yen hurts the overseas earnings of Japanese companies.

The broader-based Topix index also dropped 24.37 points, or 2.64 per cent, to 898.11.

On the currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 95.41-46 yen, down from Monday's 5 pm quote of 96.12-13 yen.

The euro traded at 1.3847-52 dollars, down from late Monday's quote of 1.3881-82 dollars, and at 132.16-21 yen, down from 133.43-47 yen. (dpa)