The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunged to a 19-month low Wednesday, dragged down by weakness on Wall Street.

The Nikkei fell 314.15 points, or 1.98 percent, to 15,513.57 for the fourth consecutive trading day of decline on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues shed 22.82 points, or 1.54 percent, to hit 1,459.75.

After opening at the day's high of 15,795.15, the Nikkei took a downward path and dropped as low as 15,424.71 shortly after 2:30 p.m.