Nikkei 225 index closes lower for a seventh session

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average index traded lower for the seventh straight session on earnings reports amid rising tensions in Spain and Italian debt markets. Nikkei 225 index declined 0.83% or 79.28 points and settled at 9,458.74. Sony Corp fell  4.5% after posting a record loss. Sharp Corp. plunged 3.2% after company reported a record annual loss of JPY 380 billion. European demand dependent Mazda Motors slipped 2.2%.