Tokyo stocks plunged sharply in the morning session of Friday, with its benchmark Nikkei stock index hitting a two-month low as investor sentiment was undermined by intensifying geopolitical risks including possible airstrikes on Iraq by the United States.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 455.49 points, or 2.99 percent, from Thursday to 14,776.88, after hitting a morning low of 14,753.84, its lowest intraday level since June 2.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 31.28 points, or 2.49 percent, at 1, 226.84.
All sectors ended the morning session lower, led by nonferrous metal, precision machinery and consumer finance shares.