Tokyo stocks close sharply lower as Wall Street's overnight rout sparks selloff

TOKYO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed sharply lower Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei index ending at a near seven-month low, as Wall Street's overnight rout dented investor sentiment and triggered a hefty selloff.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average tumbled 822.45 points, or 3.72 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 21,268.73.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, plunged 51.15 points, or 3.1 percent, to finish at 1,600.92.

All industry categories on the main section retreated into negative territory, with services, glass and ceramic products, and miscellaneous product-linked issues comprising those that declined the most by the close of play.