TOKYO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index plunged Friday morning, sliding over 2 percent and slipping below 50,000, as high-tech share declines in the U.S. market weighed on Tokyo stocks.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 1,100.19 points, or 2.16 percent, from Thursday to 49,783.49 at the end of the morning session.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, was down 41.37 points, or 1.25 percent, at 3,272.08.
The Nikkei stock index was weighed down by heavyweight semiconductor shares and artificial intelligence-related stocks amid concerns about recent rapid gains, as well as overnight losses among their U.S. counterparts on Wall Street, brokers said. ■
