Japanese stocks plunge again

Japan’s main stock market nose-dived for a second day today on growing investor jitters from “Livedoor shock,” the widening criminal investigation at an internet start-up that has sparked a sell-off, especially in technology shares.

The benchmark for the Tokyo Stock Exchange plunged 2.9 per cent today in a session that had to be shortened by 20 minutes because of a surge in transactions. The Nikkei 225 index dropped 464.77 points to close at 15,341.18 points, its biggest drop since May 10, 2004.