Tokyo - Tokyo stocks plunged Friday, dragged down by Wall Street and a strengthened yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 319.05 points, or 2.54 per cent, to 12,238,91.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 30.54 points, or 2.54 per cent, to 1,271.11.

Japan's government announced earlier on friday that the country's businesses had cut investment in the second quarter by 6.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted weaker at 106.53-58 yen, from Thursday9s 5 pm quote of 108.33.-36 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.4258-63 dollars, down from Thursday9s 5 pm quote of 1.4536-39 dollars, and at 151.90-95 yen, down from 157.50-54 yen. (dpa)