Tokyo - Surging oil prices and Wall Street plunges before the weekend sent Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average down more than 2 per cent Monday.

The Nikkei index plunged 312.35 points, or 2.23 per cent, to 13,699.85.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also fell 28.53 points, or 2.07 per cent, to 1,348.16.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 103.14-19 yen, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 103.87-90 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.5777-82 dollars, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 1.5720-22 dollars, and at 162.80-85 yen, down from 163.31-35 yen. (dpa)