TOKYO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended sharply lower on Monday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index falling to its lowest level since Jan. 8, as crude oil futures surged amid the escalation in the Middle East conflict.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 1,857.04 points, or 3.48 percent, from Thursday at 51,515.49, after briefly losing over 2,600 points.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 122.96 points, or 3.41 percent, lower at 3,486.44.
Japanese markets were closed Friday for a public holiday.
The Nikkei stock index shed over 5 percent at one point to fall below the 51,000 yen line, as the benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures contract briefly topped 100 U.S. dollars per barrel after U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran's power plants would be attacked if Iran does not lift the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Concern about disruptions to logistics and an economic slowdown driven by high energy costs weighed on financial markets, analysts said. ■
