The Nikkei stock index dipped below the psychologically important 20,000 line Friday morning as a global equities rout overnight battered investor sentiment and triggered a risk off mood

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 219.42 points, or 1.09 percent, from Thursday to 20,000.88.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, fell 14.29 points, or 0.88 percent, to 1,609.78.

Food, precision instrument, and information and communication-oriented issues comprised those that declined the most by the morning break.