Nikkei hits 4-month low on election, Wall Street

TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) Japan's Nikkei average ended the Monday morning session down 1 percent to hit its lowest in four months as exporters like Canon Inc. fell on a stronger yen, but shares of firms with solid earnings such as Fuji Film Holdings Corp rose, helping to keep the Nikkei from falling below 17,000.

Shares of Fanuc Ltd, a maker of industrial robots, added 1.5 percent to 12,840 yen on strong quarterly earnings, while Nippon Oil, Japan's biggest oil refiner, and other energy stocks gained on higher oil prices.

The defeat of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling camp in upper house elections left political uncertainties, while drops in U.S. stocks on credit concerns put a lid on the overall market.

The Nikkei gave up 172.64 points to 17,111.17, after earlier falling to 17,042.66, the lowest level since April 2. The broader TOPIX index declined 0.72 percent to 1,687.39.

REUTERS SBA PM0750