Nikkei stock index falls over 2% as heavyweight tech shares tumble

TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index briefly fell over 2 percent Friday as investors locked in gains after heavyweight technology shares were hit by weaker-than-expected earnings releases.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 1,244.76 points, or 1.99 percent, from Thursday at 61,409.29. The broader Topix index finished 15.30 points, or 0.39 percent, lower at 3,863.97.