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.

Tokyo - Japanese naval destroyer Choukai failed to intercept a mock test missile over Hawaii, the Japanese Defence Ministry said Thursday.

Tokyo - Japan posted a trade deficit of 63.9 billion yen (661 million dollars) in October as Japanese exports fell with the global financial crisis and the yen's continued strength against other currencies, the Finance Ministry said.

Exports in October declined 7.7 per cent to 6.92 trillion yen from the same month a year before, posting the largest fall since December 2001, when exports fell 14.5 per cent.

Imports rose 7.4 per cent to 6.99 trillion yen on rises in crude oil, coal and liquefied natural gas prices.

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.

Tokyo - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc announced a plan Wednesday to increase its capital by issuing preferred subscription securities and establishing a wholly owned subsidiary in the Cayman Islands.

The group, one of the three Japanese mega-banking groups, was expected to raise about 400 billion yen (4.14 billion dollars), according to media reports.

Sumitomo Mitsui plans to buy back about 283.75 billion yen in preferred securities issued in 1998 and 1999, which are not convertible to common shares, and redeem them on January 26.

Tokyo - Mazda Motor Corp bought back 6.87-per