Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average hit a two-month low Friday following the US market's overnight tumble that reflected heightened worries about inflation. The Nikkei index plunged 277.96 points, or 2.01 per cent, to close at 13,544.36. The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 24.11 points, or 1.79 per cent, at 1,320.68. For the week, Nikkei fell 2.85 per cent, and Topix also dropped 2.66 per cent. The market sentiment was dampened after the US Dow Jones industrial average plunged to a 21-month low overnight due to a record rise in crude oil prices and Goldman Sachs' reports painted grim pictures for the financial sector and General Motors Corp. On currency markets at midday (0300 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 107.00-03 yen, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 108.08-10 yen. The euro was quoted at 1.5734-39 dollars, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 1.5646-47 dollars, and at 168.35-40 yen, down from 169.11-15 yen.
