1st LD Writethru: Tokyo stocks plummet with Nikkei's historic plunge

TOKYO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed sharply lower on Friday, with Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index experiencing the second-largest drop in its history.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell below the key level of 36,000 yen to reach a six-month low by ending the day at 35,909.70, down 2,216.63 points or 5.81 percent from Thursday.

It marked the largest drop in over 36 years since a plummet