TOKYO, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks fell sharply Wednesday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index briefly sinking more than 3 percent, as tensions flared anew in the Middle East and Japanese government bond yields continued to climb.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed down 1,889.70 points, or 2.85 percent, from Tuesday at 64,325.64.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, shed 100.26 points, or 2.40 percent, to end at 4,081.60.
On the top-tier Prime Market, nonferrous metal, service, and glass and ceramics product issues were notable decliners.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond climbed to 3.015 percent at one point, extending its advance after breaching the 3 percent mark a day earlier and hitting its highest level since September 1996. All sectors declined in the Tokyo stock market, with investors rattled by rising bond yields.
Heightened tensions in the Middle East, which drove benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures contract above 90 U.S. dollars per barrel, also weighed on the market, analysts said. ■