Tokyo shares end lower by midday following US stocks retreat

Tokyo shares ended the morning session sharply lower with its benchmark Nikkei index briefly falling below the 15,000 threshold as sentiment here was punched by continued declines in the U.S. stocks market, as well as on a stronger yen.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunged 221.32 points, or 1. 45 percent, from Friday to 15,079.23, after briefly touching 14, 939.99, its lowest intraday level since Aug. 11.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 19.06 points, or 1.53 percent, to 1, 224.03.
Decliners were led by air transport, marine transport and brokerage issues.
The Japanese stocks market was closed on Monday for a national holiday.