Nikkei falls more than 2 pc, financial stocks hit

Tokyo, Aug 10: Japan's Nikkei share average sank more than 2 per cent on Friday following sharp drops in U.S. and European stocks amid spreading U.S.subprime mortgage woes, and Mizuho Financial Group and other financial stocks were hit by sell orders.

The Nikkei lost 376.68 points or 2.19 per cent to 16,793.92 as of 0007 GMT. The broader TOPIX index was 1.95 per cent lower at 1,650.82.

Reuters>