A stronger yen and anxiety over the US economy pushed down Tokyo stocks Thursday. ( dpa )
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 225.65 points, or 1.78 per cent, to 12,480.98.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 17.81 points, or 1.44 per cent, at 1,219.74.
Investors sold mainly export-oriented auto and high-tech issues as the US dollar fell below the 100-yen level. A stronger yen hurts earnings of Japanese companies.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 99.14-19 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 100.15-17 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.5818-23 dollars, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 1.5598-5601 dollars, and at 156.86-91 yen, up from 156.23-27 yen.