The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) suspended trading of all listed shares at 2:40 p.m. (0540 GMT) Wednesday for the rest of the day, saying that flooding orders from investors have reached its computer system's processing capacity.

The massive sell orders came following Wednesday's press reports that Internet firm Livedoor Co. was involved in the falsification of reported earnings. The TSE briefly suspended the trading of Japanese Internet firm Livedoor Wednesday morning.

As of the mid-afternoon session, 3.5 million deals were concluded, the TSE said.

TSE President Taizo Nishimuro called the sharp rise of orders " a very unusual situation", at an urgently convened news conference earlier in the day.

The 225-issue benchmark Nikkei Stock Average of the TSE has lost some 400 points at around 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, after losing 462.08 points Tuesday.

Source: Xinhua