TOKYO, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks opened lower on Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index briefly plunging more than 3 percent in early trading as investors locked in profits following the previous day's rally.

Pedestrians walk past a screen displaying stock market information in Tokyo, Japan, March 9, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 1,537.99 points, or 2.13 percent, from Thursday to 70,828.35. The broader Topix index was down 26.31 points, or 0.66 percent, at 3,990.16.