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TOKYO

STOCKS FINISHED weaker as Tuesday's sharp fall on Wall Street and the yen's upward trend against the dollar battered Japanese export- oriented hi-tech makers. The Nikkei 225 average ended down 275.06 points, or 1.48 per cent, at 18,257.52.

"New York stocks' tumble had a big psychological impact on Tokyo, as the higher yen had already discouraged exporter shares," said one analyst.

Traders said they were wary of buying high-tech stocks, which had posted a winning run recently.