Not pretty at all, as the Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost nearly 300 yen (-295.36, -1.67%) to 17,371.97, for one of its biggest single day losses this year — intra-day it traded as low as 17,219.73 and at high of 17,530.00 at the open, compared to yesterday’s close of 17,667.33. Heavy trading of Nikkei 225 futures in Osaka, which lost 1.5% to 17,390 (range: 17,230 - 17,540). TOPIX 1st Section fell 1.37% to 1,706.93 (range: 1,693.43 - 1,719.41). Decliners outnumbered advancers: 1,470 x 206 (54 unchanged) and 32 of 33 TOPIX sectors traded lower with only Other Non-bank stocks posting a gain. TOPIX 2nd Section lost for a sixth straight session, its longest losing streak since it lost seven days straight last November, and it has registered new calendar year lows in each of the last five trading days. No surprise here, as JASDAQ also closed lower, 0.25% to 80.27 (range: 79.84 - 80.42). The yen meanwhile, strengthened about 0.6% to just under 118 to the U.S. dollar.