Tokyo: Tokyo stocks ended lower Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei index briefly plunging over 2 percent to below the 50,000 line, weighed down by heavyweight technology shares amid caution after recent sharp advances.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 607.31 points, or 1.19 percent, from Thursday at 50,276.37. The broader Topix index also finished 14.60 points, or 0.44 percent, lower at 3,298.85.

On the stock market, the Nikkei index lost more than 1,200 points at one point, dragged down by the selling of heavyweight semiconductor shares and artificial intelligence-related stocks following overnight losses among their U.S. counterparts, analysts said. However, losses were later trimmed as some investors moved to buy on dips after the Nikkei dipped below the 50,000 line.