Japan's key Nikkei index fell 2 per cent Wednesday, tracking the US market's overnight losses, dpa reported.
In the first 10 minutes of trading Wednesday, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 186.67 points to 9,119.58 after ending Tuesday's session up more than 3 per cent.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 100.20-25 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 101.20-22 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.3005-10 dollars, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 1.3260-62 dollars, and at 130.39-44 yen, down from 134.19-23 yen.