Nikkei falls over 1 pct as Internet stocks hit

TOKYO, Sep 20 (Reuters) The Nikkei average fell 1.12 per cent by midday on Wednesday, after hitting a one-month low, as a profit warning from Yahoo Inc. hit Internet stocks including Softbank Corp., while foreign investors stepped up selling following news of huge trading losses at a hedge fund.

The market took news of a military coup in Thailand in its stride and also paid little attention to the Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership election later in the day, as chief government spokesman Shinzo Abe is set to win and be chosen as new prime minister next week.

The Nikkei was down 177.78 points at 15,696.50 after falling as low as 15,666.04, its lowest intraday since Aug. 14.

The broader TOPIX index was 1.41 percent lower at 1,569.61.

REUTERS DKS BST0748