As risk-aversion spawned by fresh concern over the eurozone sovereign debt crisis dominates equity markets, Tokyo stocks are expected to stay in the doldrums as markets abroad deteriorate.

In March, the Nikkei index climbed back above the 10,000 line for the first time in around seven months after the yen's decline caused by the Bank of Japan's surprising decision Feb. 14 to further loosen monetary policy.

However, buying momentum gradually lost steam amid rekindled concern about the U.S. economy and eurozone debt crisis after elections in Greece and France in May, with the benchmark Nikkei dipping below 8,800 on an intraday basis Wednesday, more than erasing all its gains since the credit-easing move.