A man passes an electronic board displaying financial data outside a brokerage in Tokyo Jan. 8, 2009. Japan's key Nikkei index fell nearly 4 percent on renewed economic worries about world economy as well as on profit-taking after a seven-day winning streak. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TOKYO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Japan's key Nikkei index fell nearly 4 percent on renewed economic worries about world economy as well as on profit-taking after a seven-day winning streak.

    The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 362.82 points, or 3.93 percent, from Wednesday to 8,876.42, dropping below the 9,000 line for the first time in three trading days.

    The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 27.36 points, or 3.08 percent, to 860.89.

    Tokyo stocks had risen for consecutive seven trading days till Wednesday, mostly on expectation of positive economic policies under the incoming Barack Obama's administration.

    Brokers believed the market fell on Thursday because traders turned to quick profits, and a relatively weaker dollar to yen also affected the export-oriented shares.

    On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancing issues 1,397 to 252, with 67 others remaining unchanged.

    Trading volume on the main section came to 2,112.06 million shares, down from Wednesday's 2,807.87 million.

    The TSE's Second Section index was down 13.55 points, or 0.69 percent, to 1,956.93 on a volume of 22.94 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term March Nikkei 225 index futures contract was down 370 points to 8,870.