Shares finished sharply lower amid uncertainties about the outlook for US stocks.

The Nikkei Stock Average shed 289.54 points, or 1.93%, closing the day's trading at 14,697.08 points.

On Wednesday, the index closed up 151.21 points, or 1.02%.

Traders said shares were pressured by active futures-led selling and selling in the cash market on the weak dollar and by falls of the S&P Globex index.

The selling intensified in the afternoon session as the S&P Globex index came under pressure, falling about 10 points, brokers said. "A 10 point fall on the S&P Globex translates to about an 80 point fall on the Dow Jones, which really is not so large," a Meiko Securities Co Ltd broker said.