Tokyo stocks nose-dived Monday, with the Nikkei index ending down more than 4 percent at a six-month low, amid a global flight from riskier assets as concerns of a China-led economic slowdown reached fever pitch.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 895.15 points, or 4.61 percent, from Friday at 18,540.68, a closing level not seen since Feb. 23. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 92.14 points, or 5.86 percent, lower at 1,480.87.
Every industry category on the main section saw losses, with decliners led by banks, real estate and iron and steel issues.
Stocks opened steeply lower, with investor sentiment crushed following massive declines in Asian, European and U.S. equity markets on Friday. Tokyo issues hemorrhaged further during the day in tandem with the Shanghai Composite index and others across Asia.
The Nikkei saw its largest one-day point drop in more than two years.
