TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index briefly plunged over 3 percent early Friday, tracking overnight Wall Street losses amid overheating concerns regarding semiconductor-related shares despite a favorable earnings result released the previous day.

In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 1,955.83 points, or 2.93 percent, from Thursday to 64,879.71. The broader Topix index was down 71.88 points, or 1.78 percent, at 3,956.91.