Tokyo  - A strengthening yen and a fall on Wall Street dragged stocks down in Wednesday trading in Tokyo.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed down 249.60 points, or 2.37 per cent, at 10,280.46.

The broader-based Topix index lost 18.96 points, or 1.96 per cent, to stand at 949.81.

On currency markets at noon (0300 GMT), the dollar traded at 92.87-92 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 93.25-28 yen.

The euro traded at 1.4210-11 dollars, down from late Tuesday's quote of 1.4367-70 dollars, and at 131.99-132.00 yen, down from 134.00-04 yen.

A stronger yen increases the prices of Japanese producers' products sold abroad and reduces their overseas earnings. (dpa)