Tokyo shares end sharply lower following drops in US market

Tokyo shares ended sharply lower Wednesday following drops in the overnight U.S. market, with the benchmark Nikkei index hitting a nearly one-month low.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunged 160.52 points, or 1. 05 percent, from Tuesday to end at 15,159.79, its lowest finish since June 27.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 12.24 points, or 0.97 percent, at 1, 251.29.
Decliners were led by steel products, utility, and pulp and paper shares.
The turnover was about 2,035.7 billion yen (about 19.85 billion U.S. dollars).