Japan's Nikkei slumps 10.6% on radiation fears (by V. Phani Kumar)
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Japanese shares plunged Tuesday on panic-selling over worries that radiation from a damaged nuclear reactor would further complicate and endanger the nation's recovery from its worst-ever earthquake on record Friday. The benchmark Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NI225) , which fell more than 14% at one point during the session, ended 10.6% to 8,605.15 for its biggest percentage fall since late 2008; the drop comes on top of a 6.2% tumble on Monday. The broader Topix First Section index lost 9.5% to 766.73. Most sectors and stocks tumbled during the session in what appeared to be indiscriminate selling, with heavyweight Fast Retailing Co. (JP:9983) (FRCOY) sliding 17.5% and Nippon Steel Corp. (JP:5401) (NISTY) sinking 10.9% among the big losers.