TOKYO, JAPAN - The Nikkei stock average fell 0.6 per cent on Tuesday, with financial shares such as top lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group under selling pressure on credit concerns.

Oil and gas field developer Inpex Holdings was untraded due to a flood of sell orders after a sharp drop in oil prices.

As of 8.01am Singapore time, the benchmark Nikkei fell 73.54 points to 13,286.50, while the broader Topix lost 0.5 percent to 1,306.89. -- REUTERS