Nikkei ends over 3% lower

Tokyo stocks sharply plunged Tuesday, with Nikkei tumbling over 3 percent to a one-month closing low, due to disappointing U.S. non-farm payrolls data which weakened the U.S. dollar and market. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average sharply fell 489.66 points, or 3.08 percent, from Friday to end at 15,422.40, its lowest finish since Dec. 17. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 29.40 points, or 2.26 percent, lower to 1,269.08. Japanese financial markets were closed Monday for a national holiday. All 33 sector lost ground, led by brokerage, insurance and utility shares. The turnover was about 2,861.9 billion yen (about 27.66 billion dollars).