Tokyo - Sony Corp was expected to close a television manufacturing plant and cut 2,000 full-time jobs in Japan as it prepares to report the first operating loss in 14 years amid the global economic downturn, The Nikkei business daily said Thursday.

As a cost-cutting effort, the Japanese home electronics giant earlier announced its plan to dismiss more than 16,000 workers in and outside Japan.

Tokyo - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell below 8,000 to end Wednesday trading as the market sentiment was dampened by concerns over the US and European financial sectors.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 164.15 points, or 2.04 per cent, to close at 7,901.64.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was down 17.88 points, or 2.22 per cent, to 787.15.

On currency markets at midday (0300 GMT), the dollar traded at 90.00-05 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 90.41-43 yen.

Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell below 8,000 to end Wednesday morning trading as the market sentiment was dampened by concerns over the US and European financial sectors.

The Nikkei index lost 155.94 points, or 1.93 per cent, to 7,909.85.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was down 15.23 points, or 1.89 per cent, to 789.8.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 89.77-82 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 90.41-43 yen.

Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Aver

Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell below 8,000 to end morning trading Tuesday as concerns over the European economy spread.

The Nikkei index dropped 257.83 points, or 3.12 per cent, to 7,999.02.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was down 19.67 points, or 2.41 per cent, to 798.06.

On the currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 90.63-66 yen, up from Monday's 5 pm quote of 90.62-63 yen.

Tokyo - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average ended slightly higher in a mixed day of trading Monday on the back of Wall Street's rise before the weekend and a weaker yen.

But the Tokyo market lost momentum in the afternoon session in a wait-and-see mood ahead of Tuesday's inauguration of Barack Obama as the US president.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 26.7 points, or 0.32 per cent, to close at 8,256.85.

But the broader Topix index of all First Section issues dipped 0.16 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 817.73.