Tokyo--Jan. 4--The Nikkei 225 Stock Average ended the first session of the new year in the negative column as underlying pessimism over the decelerating local economy growth and future course of the U.S. share market weighed on Japanese equities. The Nikkei opened higher led by short-term dealers following the Nasdaq jump overnight after the Federal Reserve decided on a surprise 50 basis point cut in interest rates. However, earlier gains were erased, with the Nikkei closing half-day trading at 13,691.49, down 0.7%, or 94.20 points from the previous session.