TOKYO, July 23 - Japanese Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa said he was discussing measures relating to the sliding stock market with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, Jiji news agency said on Monday.
Jiji gave no details of the content of the talks.
The benchmark Nikkei <.N225> was down 2.54 percent, or 302.68 points at 11,605.71. The average earlier fell more than 3.0 percent to as low as 11,531.68, its lowest intraday level since March 15 when it hit a 16-year low of 11,433.88.
The broader TOPIX index <.TOPX> was down 3.05 percent or 36.47 points at 1,158.78, dragged down by several large-cap banking shares including Mizuho Holdings <8305.T>.
Shiokawa earlier appeared unconcerned by the fall, saying the moves were part of a global trend.