TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese stocks fell Monday led by auto and banking stocks, after the market climbed to a 10-month high finish last week.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 202.31 points, or 1.15 percent, to finish the day's trading at 17,344.80 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The index gained 0.16 percent Friday to close at 17,547.11, the highest finish since April 7, 2006.

Nissan Motor Co. slumped 8.40 percent to 1,374 yen ($11.35) after the Tokyo-based automaker on Friday said it slashed its annual forecast while reporting a 22 percent decline in earnings for the October-December period.

Nissan recently ceded its spot as Japan's second-largest automaker to Honda Motor Co., and has struggled to boost profits amid sagging sales.

Trades said Nissan's poor quarterly performance dampened sentiment among investors, who sold other auto stocks. Honda shed 3.62 percent to 4,530 yen ($37.44) and Toyota Motor Corp., which posted a 1.64 percent decline to 7,820 yen ($64.63). Banks also fell, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. losing 2.07 percent to 1.42 million yen ($11,735.54). Other losers included non-ferrous metals, with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. falling 1.26 percent to 1,565 yen ($12.93).

Prices fell in early trading as investors also awaited more earnings results coming out over the next few weeks, including Toyota and Softbank Corp.

Hitachi dropped 16 yen or 1.97 percent to 796 after a report the maker of electronics products would postpone by about six months a decision on building a new TV plasma display plant because of stiff competition and sharp declines in prices, dealers said.

In currencies, the dollar bought 120.82 yen, down from 121.07 yen late Friday in New York. The euro fell to $1.2938 from $1.2967.

The broader Topix index, which includes all shares on the exchange's first section, was down 26.12 points, or 1.50 percent, at 1,716.28.

Volume was 1.1 billion shares, down from 1.16 billion Friday morning.

"Investors were reluctant to buy exporters on concern that the yen's weakness might be discussed at the G7 meeting later this week," said Hideo Mizutani, chief strategist at Sieg Securities.