The Nikkei stock index retreated for a second straight day Wednesday, falling 1.71 percent, as a continued plummet in crude oil prices sent Wall Street lower overnight and the yen higher versus the U.S. dollar, which soured the market mood and ensured investors were in a risk-off mood.
The Nikkei 225 fell 91.75 points to close the day at a near one- month low at 16,795.96, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped 16.71 points, or 1.22 percent, to end at 1,357.98.