(Corrects paragraph 2 to ... its highest since February ... not lowest since February)
TOKYO, July 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is likely to fall on Thursday, weighed down by sharp gains in the yen and further declines in oil prices as doubts mount about the health of global economy.
Exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp and Canon Inc will be in focus after the yen jumped to around 91.8 yen against the dollar, its highest since February as risk aversion rose on economic worries.
Energy-linked shares like oil refiner Nippon Mining Holdings are also seen heading lower after oil declined 4 percent.
"The yen's strength is likely to push the Nikkei further down. Currency movements will be the main market moving factor today since Wall Street did not fall the previous day," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities.
But market watchers think better-than-expected earnings results from U.S. aluminium producer and industry bellwether Alcoa may limit the Nikkei's losses.
In a sign the market may open lower, Nikkei futures traded in Chicago fell 0.6 percent from their Osaka close of 9,410.
The Nikkei fell 2.4 percent on Monday to 9,420.75, its lowest close since May 26.
The Dow and Nasdaq eked out gains on Wednesday as a late-stage rally brought stocks off their lows on hopes that the quarterly earnings season would deliver good news.
Market players expect the Nikkei to trade between 9,400 and 9,500 on Thursday. > Dow, Nasdaq squeeze out gains before Alcoa results > Yen soars; risk aversion rises on economic worries > Strong auction shows safe-haven bonds in favor > Gold falls toward $900 on dollar rise, weak commods > Oil falls 4 pct on EIA report, economic doubts STOCKS TO WATCH
-- Mitsubishi Motors Corp
Mitsubishi Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroen Group of France will jointly develop plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Nikkei business daily said. (Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro)