TOKYO, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed sharply lower on Monday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index briefly plunging over 4 percent, as investors locked in gains following the recent run-up in heavyweight technology shares.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 2,563.52 points, or 3.85 percent, from Friday at 64,024.60.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 96.71 points, or 2.45 percent, lower at 3,852.38.
Artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related shares led the decline, tracking Wall Street losses late last week amid growing expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike later this year. Lingering uncertainty over the Middle East conflict also weighed on market sentiment.
Despite the Nikkei posting its fourth-largest intraday point drop on record, analysts said the move was more likely a temporary pullback following the recent rally, as growth hopes for the technology sector remain intact.
