Japan stocks down

Japanese shares declined Thursday morning as disappointing data on retail sales in July prompted investors to worry about the health of the nation's economy, dpa reported. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 67.08 points, or 0.74 per cent, to trade at 9,002.73 at the end of the morning session at 11:30 am (0230 GMT). The broader-based Topix index was down 5.38 points, or 0.72 per cent, at 744.65. Retailers declined after the government said Japan's retail sales in July fell 0.8 per cent from a year earlier for the first decline in eight months. Sales at large retailers plunged 4.4 per cent, the government said. Shares in Seven & I Holdings Co shed 1.77 per cent, J Front Retailing Co lost 1 per cent and Fast Retailing Co was down 0.97 per cent. On currency markets at 11:30 am, the dollar traded at 78.61-64 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 78.49-50 yen. The euro was quoted at 98.58-60 yen, up from 98.41-45 yen late Wednesday, and at 1.2538-2540 dollars, almost unchanged from 1.2538-2539 dollars.