Japanese shares plunge after earthquake, tsunami

Japanese shares are plunging in early trading Monday in the first business day after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average shed 494 points, or 4.8 percent, to 9,760.45.

Worries about the economic impact of the disaster, including power shortages, triggered a broad sell-off that hit all sectors.

The dollar was trading at the lower 81-yen level, down from the high 82-yen levels Friday.