Japan’s Nikkei share gauge tumbled more than 4% on Friday, as a global rout in chipmakers and an escalation in the Middle East conflict prompted investors to shun risk assets.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 slid 4.4% to 63,896.48 as of the midday break, poised for its steepest decline in four months. The broader Topix slipped 2.61% to 3,923.45. The decline followed overnight losses in US equities, where technology stocks tumbled, while US economic data showed strength and corporate earnings season was robust.