Tokyo: Stocks open sharply down after US, European shares fall

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower on Wednesday, as a stronger yen took a bite out of exporters and after markets in Europe and on Wall Street tumbled on another drop in crude prices.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange slumped 1.43 per cent, or 253.27 points, to 17,497.41 in opening deals, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares lost 1.64 per cent, or 23.76 points, to 1,428.28.

AFP