World markets tremble over risks to the US economy; Japan's Nikkei 225 index plunges 12.4%

In the latest bout of sell-offs that are shaking world markets as investors fret over the state of the U.S. economy, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index plunged 12.4 percent on Monday. The Nikkei closed down 4,451.28 points at 31,458.42. The market's broader TOPIX index fell 12.8 percent as sellin...