Nikkei hits two-month low as exporters slump
TOKYO, Nov 24 (Reuters) The Nikkei average hit its lowest level in two months on Friday, dropping 1.4 percent as shares of exporters such as Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and Kyocera Corp. declined on concern that a stronger yen would crimp their earnings from abroad.
Shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. dropped more than 4 percent after Japan's third-largest bank reported a steeper-than-expected 38 percent fall in half-year net profit.
The Nikkei finished the morning down 219.68 points at 15,694.55 after earlier hitting its lowest since late September The broader TOPIX index was down 1.22 percent at 1,533.87.
Reuters SBA VP0755
Comments
Story first published: Friday, November 24, 2006, 8:32 [IST]