Stocks plunged in Tokyo on Monday.

Traders dumped shares on fears over Chinese growth and the state of emerging economies.

Japan’s key Nikkei stock average briefly slid below 15,000 for the first time in two months, and ended the day down about two-and-a-half percent.

The slump followed Friday’s sell-off on Wall Street, triggered by worries over China’s slowing economy and weakening currencies in emerging nations.

The flight to safety pushed the yen higher, hurting shares of Japan’s export giants.

Japan also said today (Monday) it recorded its worst-ever trade deficit in 2013.

The 112-billion dollar deficit was Japan’s third straight year of red ink as the country pays more for imported gas.