Tokyo stocks plunge 2.76 pct amid global growth jitters after holiday

Tokyo stocks fell 2.76 percent on Thursday as investors returned from a five-day holiday to a gloomy outlook for global economic health after U.S. stocks declined steeply.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 498.38 points, from last Friday at 17,571.83, a roughly two-week closing low. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 35.41 points, or 2.42 percent, lower at 1,426.97.

Decliners were led by machinery, nonferrous metals and iron and steel issues.

The turnover was 2,746.51 billion yen (about 22.88 billion U.S. dollars). Endi