The Tokyo stock market has taken a severe beating in recent days.
With the downtrend continuing unabated, the 225-issue Nikkei average is now threatening to fall below the 11,000 level.
One theory holds that stock markets foreshadow cyclical changes awaiting the economy and corporate earnings.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.