Japan shares fall 11th straight session

Japan's key stock index extended its sell-off to an 11th straight session Thursday _ its longest slide in 54 years.

Increasingly nervous about a slowing global economy, investors remained wary following sharp declines overnight on Wall Street and ahead of U.S. jobs data and an interest rate decision by the European Central Bank later in the day.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped 20.97 points, or 0.16 percent, to 13,265.40, its lowest level since April 16. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed down 0.24 percent at 1,298.02.

The Nikkei has lost more than eight percent of its value over the 11-day fall, which is the longest losing streak since the index stumbled for 15 straight trading days starting April 28, 1954.

Especially hard hit Thursday were glass makers, trading firms and iron and steel companies, on mounting concerns over a slowdown in the auto industry. U.S. data released earlier this week revealed dismal sales in June among most major automakers.

"It has become clear that car sales are declining, and so that is affecting sentiment in auto parts, including glass, iron and steel," said Kazuki Miyazawa, market analyst for Daiwa Securities SMBC in Tokyo.

Nippon Sheet Glass Co. plunged 4.84 percent to 492 yen, Asahi Glass Co. tumbled 4.44 percent to 1,184 yen, and iron and steel company JFE Holdings Inc. shed 3.90 percent to 4,930 yen.

Trading houses also withered, with Mitsubishi Corp. retreating 4.43 percent to 3,450 yen and Mitsui & Co. falling 3.55 percent to 2,310 yen.

Among the few gainers, Internet and mobile service provider Softbank Corp. added 2.53 percent to 1,903 yen ahead of its introduction of Apple Inc.'s highly anticipated iPhone on July 11.

Pioneer Corp. jumped 4.13 percent to 882 yen after local media reported that the company would sell a display factory as part of plans to shutter its ailing plasma screen business.

In currency trading, the dollar stood at 106 yen Thursday afternoon, up from 105.92 yen late Wednesday. The greenback rebounded a bit against the euro after dropping close to two-month lows earlier in the day. The euro was trading at $1.5865 compared with $1.5880 Wednesday.

The dollar was mixed against other major Asian currencies. It fell to 1.3577 Singapore dollar and rose to 1,046.00 South Korean won.