RTRS: Nikkei at 4-½ yr closing low, economic gloom grows
TOKYO, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average tumbled 4.3 percent to a 4-½ year closing low on Monday after falling 5 percent at one point as investors, spooked by signs of growing global economic gloom, dumped shares across the board.
Financials were hit hard, with top bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) losing 9.2 percent. Exporters and high-tech shares also dragged the Nikkei down.
The benchmark Nikkei .N225 shed 465.05 points to 10,473.09, its lowest close since February 2004, after earlier falling as low as 10,374.38. The broader Topix shed 48.92 points to 999.05 in its lowest close since December 2003. (Reporting by Elaine Lies)
