TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Nikkei stock index ended down over 2 percent on Wednesday after briefly sliding over 4 percent to below the 50,000 line, as heavyweight technology shares were sold following recent surges.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunged 1,284.93 points, or 2.50 percent, from Tuesday to 50,212.27. The broader Topix index finished 41.85 points, or 1.26 percent, lower at 3,268.29.

On the top-tier Prime Market, the main decliners were nonferrous metal, information and communication and electric appliance issues.

The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to around the 153 yen line in Tokyo as the yen, seen as a safe-haven asset, was bought amid sharp declines in Tokyo stocks, dealers said.

Stocks sank as investors continued to lock in gains after the key index advanced over 7,400 points in October, its largest-ever monthly point rise, with heavyweight chip shares and stocks related to artificial intelligence notably declining.

Among notable decliners, Softbank Group ended down 10.0 percent at 22,640 yen, while semiconductor testing equipment maker Advantest fell 5.9 percent to 20,485 yen.

The market also tracked overnight losses on Wall Street, where the tech-heavy U.S. Nasdaq index closed down 2 percent, falling from recent highs amid growing concerns over the prolonged U.S. government shutdown.

However, it later trimmed the losses, with investors hunting for bargains after the Nikkei briefly lost more than 2,400 points.

Shares of some Japanese companies that released solid earnings reports or revised forecasts upward, such as Nintendo, also supported the market. The gaming giant rose 6.2 percent to 13,750 yen.