Tokyo - Stocks in Tokyo fell Wednesday for the first time this week as the yen strengthened against the dollar and JPMorgan Chase and Co lowered its investment ratings on Japanese banks. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 81.09 points, or 0.78 per cent, to close at 10,312.14.
The broader-based Topix index was also down 6.56 points, or 0.69 per cent, at 939.84.
On currency markets at noon (0300 GMT), the dollar traded at 92.36-38 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 92.37-40 yen.
A stronger yen increases the prices of Japanese producers' products sold abroad and lowers their overseas earnings.
The euro traded at 1.4492-97 dollars, up from late Tuesday's quote of 1.4415-18 dollars, and at 133.80-93 yen, up from 133.18-22 yen.
