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TOKYO

JAPANESE STOCKS closed lower for a third consecutive day on worries that the United States might raise interest rates and concerns that a higher yen will affect earnings at Japan's global manufacturers.

At the close, the Nikkei 225 average was down 195.90 points or 1.1 per cent at 17,534.44.

A big drop in Internet stocks that dragged the US Nasdaq index down 2.8 per cent also dampened sentiment for Tokyo high-technology shares.