Tokyo shares end morning session down 4.53pc

Tokyo: shares plunged 4.53 percent by noon on Monday as investors reacted to the biggest earthquake in Japan's history, a devastating tsunami and an unfolding nuclear emergency. Shares tumbled shortly after opening as the key index sank below 10,000 to its lowest levels since November. The Nikkei index ended the morning session down 464.88 points at 9,789.55.

"We cannot possibly ignore the impact that this quake will have in terms of geographical span and scale, as well as the psychological impact," Credit Suisse strategist Shun Maruyama told Dow Jones Newswires. Maruyama cut his Nikkei target for end-March to 9,000 from an earlier 11,000, saying the index may fall to 9,500 Monday.