TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell over 3 percent on Thursday to slip below 8,000 for the first time in three weeks, battered by a stronger yen that hit exporters such as Canon Inc.

Japan's trade balance swung into a deficit of 63.9 billion yen ($668.5 million) in October, Ministry of Finance data showed on Thursday, reinforcing worries that sluggish exports may push the economy deeper into recession.

At 0018 GMT the benchmark Nikkei had fallen nearly 4 percent to 7,962.77, a loss of 310.45 points. The broader Topix was down 3.2 percent to 800.88.