TOKYO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average fell to a three-week closing low on Wednesday, hit by late sales in futures that dragged the cash market down along with a slide in Chinese stocks that worsened already nervous investor sentiment. Sanyo Electric Co clung to gains after soaring as much as 17 percent after a source familiar with the matter said Toyota Motor Corp would buy batteries for hybrid cars from Sanyo to keep pace with growing demand for cleaner vehicles.
The benchmark Nikkei shed 0.8 percent or 80.96 points to 10,204.00, its lowest close since late July. The broader Topix fell 0.7 percent to 943.25. (Reporting by Elaine Lies)