The Nikkei Average fell by about ______ points.

Japan share prices closed lower today. The Nikkei Average fell by nearly 101 points. Meanwhile oil prices were flat in Asian trading. Traders were looking ahead to the midweek U.S. petroleum inventory report which is likely to show rising cool stocks and falling gasoline and distillate supplies. That report is due out tomorrow. U.S. light crude for May delivery was down just 3 cents to $ 63.58 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.