Nikkei Off 0.7%, TOPIX Up Slightly

Japan market summary for Thursday (Nov. 15)
Nikkei 225 Stock Average: -103.26 (-0.7%6) to 15,396.30
Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: -140 (-0.9%) to 15,390, Singapore (SGX) -125 (-0.8%) to 15,390, Chicago (CME) *11/14 +65 (+0.4%) to 15,500
TOPIX: +1.15 (+0.1%) to 1,498.86; Advancers 939 x decliners 691 (unch. 92), New highs 7 x new lows 58; 13/33 sectors posted gains
Nikkei Jasdaq: +0.83 (+0.0%) to 1,776.23
Yen: fractionally stronger against the US$ near the 111.30 level late in Tokyo; slightly weaker against the euro to the 163.25 level
Notes: MOTHERS lost 3.0% and HERCULES declined 2.4%. Stocks fell apart late in the afternoon on news of yet another political scandal, which brought on selling of futures and spilled over into stocks. Equities were under selling pressure across most of Asia.