TOKYO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Japan's key stock index, the Nikkei 225 index, plunged more than 4 percent in the morning session on Wednesday, falling below the 50,000 mark.
As of 10:44 a.m. local time, the index fell 4.17 percent at 49,346.44, driven by investor caution over the prior rapid run-up in share prices, particularly in semiconductor-related sectors. ■
