Japan’s Nikkei 225 index plunges as world markets react to US economy fears

It is the worst two-day decline ever on the index (Shohei Miyano/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index has plunged 12.4% in the latest bout of sell-offs to shake world markets as investors fret over the state of the US economy.

The Nikkei closed down 4,451.28 points at 31,458.42 on Monday. The market’s broader TOPIX index fell 12.8% as selling picked up in the afternoon.