The Economic Information Daily reported on the 15th: Japanese stocks plunged in the afternoon session, with the Nikkei 225 Index closing at 64,425 for the day, down 3,318 points or 4.9%. The South Korean KOSPI Index closed at 5,554, down 454 points or 7.57%.

The US dollar against the Japanese yen was quoted at 157.93/95.