Tokyo stocks drop sharply in morning as Israel strikes Iran
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks dropped sharply Friday morning, hit by fears of heightening tensions in the Middle East after the Israeli military attacked Iranian nuclear and military sites.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 507.16 points, or 1.33 percent, from Thursday to 37,665.93. The broader Topix index was down 35.01 points, or 1.26 percent, at 2,747.96.
The U.S. dollar briefly sank to the upper 142 yen range in Tokyo, as the Japanese currency, seen as a safe-haven asset, was bought amid concern about the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.
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