Tokyo's benchmark index rebounded sharply Tuesday, casting off heavy losses to sit 1.5 percent higher in the last few minutes of morning trade.

The Nikkei 225 at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which plunged more than four percent at the open, added 284.84 points to stand at 18,825.52, while the Topix index of all first-section shares jumped 1.87 percent, or 27.63 points, to 1,508.50, also clawing back big losses.