Japanese shares plummeted on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve announced plans to cut its monetary stimulus further amid growing concerns about emerging economies.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 376.85 points or 2.45 per cent to end at 15,007.06, while the broader-based Topix index was down 32.09 points or 2.55 per cent at 1,224.09.
Exporters traded broadly lower as the yen climbed against the dollar and the euro. A stronger yen makes Japanese goods less competitive overseas and erodes the repatriated earnings.
On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.19 per cent to 15,738.79 after the US central bank decided to reduce its monthly bond-buying programme to $65 billion from $75 billion.
On the currency markets at 3 p.m. (0600 GMT), the dollar traded at 102.45-47 yen, down from Wednesday’s 5 p.m. quote of 103.12-14 yen.
The euro quoted at 139.81-82 yen, down from 140.89-93 yen late Friday and at $1.3644-3646, down from $1.3662-3664.