* Nikkei posts sixth straight day of losses

* Exporters dragged lower by strong yen, economy doubts

* Machinery stocks stung by unexpected fall in May orders

* First section daily trading volume moderate

By Shinichi Saoshiro

TOKYO, July 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 2.4 percent to a six-week closing low on Wednesday, hurt by an unexpected slide in domestic machinery orders and as the yen rose to seven-week highs against the dollar on talk of more stimulus for the U.S. economy.

Komatsu (6301.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and other machinery makers dropped after Japan's core private-sector machinery orders fell 3.0 percent in May from the previous month, suggesting a recovery in capital spending may be delayed. [ID:nT292365]

Market analysts say the equity market has been going through a reality check after data on Thursday showed U.S. employers had shed nearly half a million jobs in June with the unemployment rate jumping to 9.5 percent, the highest in nearly 26 years. [ID:nN01210643]

"Market sentiment has deteriorated at a faster-than-expected pace following the weak U.S. employment data and the adjustment phase could be a long drawn-out one," said Takashi Kamiya, chief economist at T&D Asset Management.