Tokyo - Japanese stocks lost ground in Thursday morning trading due to the strengthening of the yen and falls on Wall Street, leaving the Nikkei 225 Stock Average below the psychologically important 10,000 mark.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 195.68 points, or 1.94 per cent, to stand at 9,879.37.

The broader-based Topix index also lost 9.59 points, or 1.08 per cent, to stand at 879.21.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 90.62-65 yen, down from 91.15-17 yen in late trading Wednesday.

The euro traded at 1.4715-17 dollars, down from 1.4826-28 dollars, and at 133.36-39 yen, down from 135.14-18 yen. (dpa)