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By Ayai TomisawaTOKYO (Reuters)-
Japan's Nikkei index fell 2. 2 percent to 4-1/2-
Thursday's monthly low was hit by growing concerns about weak global growth.
The appreciation of the yen has dragged down exporters such as Toyota Motor and Honda Motor.
The Nikkei index ended 335.
14 points lower at 14,738.
38, the lowest closing level since May 30.
The benchmark is still below 200.
The daily moving average for the third consecutive day.
"It is clear that people are avoiding risk," said takatshi Itoshima, chief portfolio manager at Commons Asset Management, adding that investors have begun to doubt the United StatesS.
Japan's economic recovery is strong enough to support the stock market. The U. S.
The economy has been a relatively bright spot in the otherwise bleak global economic landscape, so investors have invested in dollars.
"In the absence of any support measures, the yen is now strengthening, so we will be temporarily depressed in the direction of the yen," Itoshima said.
But I think sales are close to a climax.
Unless there are further negative developments in global growth.
Shares of Toyota Motor Corp have fallen and exporters have been hit hard.
9%, Honda sank 3.
9% and Panasonic fell off 3. 6 percent.
Recruit Holdings Ltd, a Japanese recruitment company, soared to 3,330 yen on its first day of listing, compared with 3,100 yen on its IPO.
Fujifilm Holdings and other Ebola
Stocks have soared over speculation about which companies will be rewarded with higher returns for fears that the deadly virus, Ebola, is intensifying in the United States.
Fujifilm got 1.
Airtech Japan Ltd. , a manufacturer of 8% and industrial air purifiers, jumped 27%.
The East card fell 2.
3% to 1,195. 50, and JPX-
The Nikkei index fell 2 by 400.
2% to 10,891. 85. (
Tomisawa Ayai reports;
Edited by Kim Coghill & Shri Navaratnam)