Tokyo stocks tumbled more than two percent Friday morning, tracking a selloff on Wall Street fuelled by fears of a protracted conflict in Ukraine and after more data confirming the blistering pace of US inflation.
The dollar also rose to its highest level against the yen in five years as the spike in US prices fanned expectations the Federal Reserve will act more more aggressively in hiking interest rates.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 2.44 percent, or 625.66 points, to 25,064.74 at the break, while the broader Topix index was down 1.99 percent, or 36.34 points, at 1,793.69.—AFP
