Share prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange took another severe beating Wednesday, with the Nikkei Stock Average briefly dipping below the crucial 9,000 mark to hit a fresh 19-year low.
The 225-issue Nikkei fell 141.95 points, or 1.54 percent, to close at 9,075.09 after touching 8,995.20 in the late afternoon, down 221.84 points. The Nikkei fell for the seventh consecutive day.
The broader Topix index of all first section issues declined 17.85 points, or 1.97 percent, to 886.39, registering a near 18-year low.