Tokyo stocks plummeted to a new 20-year low Monday, as the growing threat of war in Iraq and a sliding dollar prompted investors to sell a broad range of shares.

The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei stock average briefly slipped below the 8,000-point level before recouping some of its heavy midafternoon losses.

By the close, the Nikkei had fallen 101.86 points, or 1.25 percent, to 8,042.26 points -- its lowest since it closed at 8,027.64 points on March 10, 1983. On Friday, the index lost 225.03 points, or 2.69 percent, to finish at 8,144.12.