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| - Tokyo's key Nikkei index tumbled nearly 4.0 percent at the close on Friday after a rout on Wall Street as rising bond yields in the United States and elsewhere stoked inflation fears. The Nikkei gave up 3.99 percent, or 1,202.26 points, to 28,966.01, marking its largest fall since June 2016. The broader Topix index dropped 3.21 percent, or 61.74 points, to 1,864.49. "Equities are starting to quiver on the outlook for higher rates with losses led by the tech sector," said Tapas Strickland, senior analyst at National Australia Bank. The dollar stayed relatively stable, changing hands at 106.18 yen in Asian trade, against 106.25 yen in New York but higher than 105.89 yen in Tokyo late Thursday. Sharp falls of Wall Street shares pressed investors in Tokyo to hit the sell button from early in the trading day, analysts said. The Dow dropped 1.8 percent to 31,402.01, retreating from an all-time high set Wednesday. "The market remained under pressure in the afternoon. Falls in other Asian markets encouraged investors to wait and see what happens," Okasan Online Securities said in a commentary. "People refrained from making aggressive moves as it is the end of the month and ahead of a weekend." Stocks had been under pressure as investors monitored the 10-year US Treasury yield, which has been rising sharply in recent days and got as high as 1.61 percent on Thursday. Investors fear a spike in inflation will prompt the US Federal Reserve to shift away from easy-money policies and quickly raise interest rates -- despite the central bank's assurances to the contrary. hih/sah/rbu
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