Aftershocks, nuclear problems drag down Japan stocks

Japan's Nikkei stock average fell for the second straight session on Tuesday, rattled by a spate of aftershocks, the ongoing nuclear crisis and a drop in oil prices overnight. The benchmark opened 1.2 percent lower at 9,603.50 while the broader Topix also shed 1.2% to 842.47. Despite coming off a one-month peak hit the previous session, the Nikkei has already recouped about two-thirds of the ground lost since the disasters, but analysts said from now on potential gains will likely be hard-won.