Tokyo stocks continued to sink Wednesday, as investors rushed to sell, concerning over the investigation of Internet firm Livedoor, before the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) suspended trading of all shares at 2:40 p.m. (GMT 0540).

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended the day's suspended trading at 15,341.18, down 464.77 points, or 2.94 percent.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the TSE on Wednesday fell 56.94 points, or 3.49 percent, to 1,574.67.

At 2:40 p.m. (GMT 0540), 20 minutes before the usual closing time, the TSE suspended trading for the rest of the day -- the first time such an emergency measure was taken.

Declining issues led advancing ones 1,574 to 83, with 11 shares ending flat.

Trading volume on the TSE's main section swelled to 3,279.71 million shares from Tuesday's 2,167.68 million shares.

The TSE's Second Section index lost 397.99 points, or 7.47 percent, to 4,931.82 on a volume of 237.67 million shares. In Osaka, the near-term March Nikkei 225 index futures contract lost 440 points to 15,330.

Source: Xinhua