Tokyo's Nikkei ends over 2.0% down after Wall St plunge

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index closed down more than 2.0 percent on Tuesday, with investors discouraged by a plunge in US shares on fears over demand in the tech sector.

The Nikkei 225 index, which fell more than 3.5 percent in early trade, closed at 21,810.52 points, down 2.06 percent or 459.36 points.

The broader Topix index was down 2.00 percent or 33.50 points at 1,638.45.

Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower, taking a negative lead from New York where stocks crumbled, with a sell-off sparked by fears of weakening demand for Apple's iPhone spreading to the rest of the market.

"Following the negative sentiment from New York, Japanese high-tech shares were hit hard today," said Daiwa Securities senior technical analyst Hikaru Sato.

"But the market regained stability in the afternoon as bargain-hunting emerged after shares fell excessively fast in the morning."

A weak yen also helped shares recover part of their early losses, brokers said.

The dollar fetched 113.98 yen in Asian afternoon trade, down from 113.85 yen in New York late Monday.

"The market's number one concern ahead is the US-China trade war," Sato said.

Investors are expected to remain cautious about news related to a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in late November, he added.

In Tokyo, Apple's parts supplier Murata Manufacturing dropped 4.76 percent to 17,000 yen, while other electronic parts makers also plunged, with TDK plummeting 6.26 percent to 8,970 yen and Alps Electric losing 4.84 percent to 2,535 yen.

Nintendo dropped 2.01 percent to 35,560 yen with Sony down 2.69 percent at 5,893 yen.

The auto sector was also among losers. Toyota lost 2.44 percent to 6,545 yen with Nissan down 1.99 percent at 1,008.5 yen.