TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index extended losses to over 4 percent Monday morning, as investors sought to lock in gains from recent sharp rises in heavyweight technology shares.
At 10:41, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average was down 3,012.33 points, or 4.52 percent, from Friday at 63,575.79. The broader Topix index was 117.78 points, or 2.98 percent, lower at 3,831.31.
Stocks plunged, dragged down by artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares tracking losses in their U.S. counterparts late last week as expectations grew for rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Investor sentiment was also dampened by rising uncertainty over the Middle East situation, following reports of new strikes by Israel, Iran and Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah over the weekend.
