Pedestrians walk past a screen displaying stock market information in Tokyo, Japan, March 9, 2026. Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index lost over 2,800 points on Monday, marking the third largest point drop in history. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 2,892.12 points, or 5.20 percent, from Friday at 52,728.72. (Xinhua/Yue Chenxing)

TOKYO, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index lost over 2,800 points on Monday, marking the third largest point drop in history.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 2,892.12 points, or 5.20 percent, from Friday at 52,728.72.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 141.09 points, or 3.80 percent, lower at 3,575.84.

On the stock market, the Nikkei stock index briefly plunged over 7 percent in morning trading, as crude oil futures surged to the highest level since June 2022 amid growing concerns about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, analysts said. ■