TOKYO, June 26– Tokyo stocks ended lower on Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index briefly plunging more than 5 percent, logging its third-largest point drop ever.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 3,005.46 points, or 4.15 percent, from Thursday at 69,360.88.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 53.11 points, or 1.32 percent, lower at 3,963.36.
On the top-tier Prime Market, nonferrous metal, information and communication, and electric appliance issues were notable decliners.
Stocks came under pressure from profit-taking following the Nikkei’s surge of more than 3,100 points the previous session, with semiconductor-related shares bearing the brunt of selling.
SoftBank Group led declines after reports emerged that OpenAI, in which it has heavily invested, is considering holding off on its initial public offering until next year.
Higher West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures also weighed on market sentiment, analysts said. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
