Tokyo stocks tumble in early trading

Tokyo stocks plunged from the off in Tokyo on Wednesday as Wall Street's overnight decline and a continued slide in oil prices ensured investors were in a risk-off mood.

As of 9.15 a.m. (local time), the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 369.02 points, or 2.08 percent, from Tuesday to 17,381.66, Xinhua reported.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 34.07 points, or 2.35 percent, at 1,417.97.

All categories on the main section declined, with the most notable early retreats comprising iron and steel, and machinery-linked shares.