TOKYO, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Index plummeted over 8 percent on Monday, triggering the futures circuit breaker, which halted trading until 1:36 p.m. local time.
The index dropped below the 33,000-point mark for the first time since Jan. 4, suffering the worst losses since 1987.
Meanwhile, the broader Topix index, which dived nearly 9 percent, also saw its futures trading suspended.
Market watchers here noted the sharp declines came amid broad sell-off over growing concerns over a potential recession in the United States and a strengthening yen. ■
