Tokyo’s Nikkei index ends down 3% on inflation worries

Tokyo's key Nikkei index slumped three per cent at the close on Monday after US inflation data fuelled concerns about a more aggressive pace of Federal Reserve monetary tightening.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index dropped 3.01 per cent, or 836.85 points, to 26,987.44, while the broader Topix index fell 2.16 per cent, or 42.03, to 1,901.06. 

The market opened lower, as global inflation worries escalated on fresh US data and drove down Wall Street, especially high-tech issues.

The dollar continued to advance against the yen, which hit its lowest level since 1998 on Monday afternoon.

Japan's currency has been weakening for months, accelerated by the US Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary tightening to tackle soaring inflation.