Japan's Nikkei Stock Average prolonged losses on Tuesday as Yen appreciated and China announced its strategy to shift away from exports, pressing down on Japanese shipping firms and machinery providers. Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.56% or 54.44 points and ended at 9,644.15. Oil and metal shares provided substantial downward contribution with JX Holdings Inc dropping 1.2% and Inpex Corp giving up 0.9%. Kobe Steel Ltd tumbled 3.8% after rejecting dividend pay-out. Another steel producer JFE Holdings fell 3.1%.