Nikkei plunges over 4% on Middle East concerns, oil price surge

The Nikkei stock index dropped over 4 percent Wednesday afternoon, dragged down by growing concern over the conflict in the Middle East and surging oil prices.At 12:55 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 2,405.68 points, or 4.27 percent, from Tuesday to 53,873.37. The broader Topix index was down 163.71 points, or 4.34 percent, at 3,608.46.The Nikkei index briefly lost over 2,600 points, after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that attacks by the United States and Israel could last for an extended period of time, dealers said.All sectors declined on concern about surging oil p…READ FULL ARTICLE