HONG KONG, Oct 8: Stocks in Asia were battered on Wednesday, with Tokyo losing more than nine per cent, despite government measures to pump money into the market as investors grew more concerned for the global economy.

Hong Kong plummeted more than eight per cent while many of the region’s other major indexes shed at least five per cent as multi-billion-dollar injections by Australia and Japan as well as a rate cut in Hong Kong failed to lift confidence.

Tokyo’s Nikkei plummeted 9.38 per cent, its worst fall since the 1987 “Black Monday” crash, while Sydney shed five per cent. Hong Kong tanked 8.2 per cent to its lowest level in more than two years and Singapore lost 6.6 per cent.

The falls came despite Tokyo ploughing another 2.1 trillion yen ($20.7 billion) into the markets, its 16th straight day of intervention, while Australia injected more than $850 million.

It was the third-biggest loss in the history of Asia’s largest bourse, surpassing the slump after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The Nikkei is now at its lowest level in five years.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said the plunge was beyond our imagination, adding that he sensed “huge fears” in the public.

TOKYO: The Tokyo stock market suffered its darkest day since the 1987 stock market crash, losing 9.38 per cent, dealers said.

The Nikkei-225 index dived 952.58 points to 9,203.32.

Reports that auto giant Toyota may miss its earnings forecast added to jitters, sending shares in the auto giant down 11.6 per cent to 3,280 yen.

Other exporters also suffered a mauling as the yen soared, dimming the outlook for overseas earnings. Sony dropped 335 yen, or 12.3 per cent, to 2,385.

The Topix index of all first section shares tumbled 78.60 points, or 8.04 per cent, to 899.01.

The Nikkei is 76 per cent lower than its all-time peak of 38,915 points struck in December 1989 before Japan’s economic bubble burst.

MUMBAI: Indian shares fell 3.55 per cent in late afternoon trade, dealers said.

The BSE benchmark 30-share Sensex index was down 415.66 points at 11,279.58, recovering from an eight per cent fall midday.—AFP