Nikkei Index drops 0.7% dragged down by metal and brokerage stocks

Metal stocks and brokerage stocks led the declines. Sumitomo Metal Mining fell 4.0%, while Nomura Holdings dropped 2.2%. Investors are closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, as well as any measures taken by the Japanese government to address conflicts and shortages in energy and petrochemical products. The Nikkei Index dropped 0.7% to 59,085.09 points.