Nikkei hits 6-wk closing low, JAL and banks weigh

TOKYO Nov 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.6 percent on Wednesday to its lowest close in six weeks, dragged down by banking and real estate shares on fundraising worries and ahead of earnings from Japan's biggest bank. Shares in Japan Airlines Corp 9205.T fell to their lowest level since their 2002 re-listing on Wednesday after Japan's transport minister said he had never said a court-led bankruptcy for the troubled airline was impossible, though they recovered slightly by the close. [ID:nT199640]

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 lost 53.13 points to 9,676.80 for its lowest close since Oct. 5. The broader Topix .TOPX lost 0.8 percent to 850.06, its lowest close since May. (Reporting by Elaine Lies)