On the 8th, the Nikkei Stock Average closed at 66,819.05 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, down 1,437.91 yen from the previous day. Selling dominated as Middle East tensions escalated, sending the Nikkei sharply lower by more than 1,000 yen for a second straight day. The U.S. Central Command announced retaliatory strikes against Iran, and the U.S. Treasury Department revoked sanctions relief that had allowed purchases of Iranian crude, pushing oil prices higher and chilling investor sentiment.