The Nikkei Stock Average fell sharply for a third consecutive session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on September 2, opening 1,019.91 points lower at 65,195.43 and extending its decline to as much as 1,470 points by 9:05 a.m. The index briefly fell below 65,000 as rising crude oil futures after the U.S. strike on Iran, higher Japanese long-term interest rates and Middle East geopolitical concerns prompted broad selling. U.S. stocks also declined on September 1, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 419.02 points at 52,766.88, the Nasdaq Composite down 271.11 points at 26,099.77 and the S&P 500 down 54.67 points at 7,631.47. Chicago Nikkei futures had settled at 64,870, 1,280 points below the Osaka Exchange settlement on September 1, adding to selling pressure in Tokyo. The dollar traded in the low 160-yen range against the yen, while the euro traded in the mid-185-yen range. The Nikkei's 75-day moving average near 66,500 was viewed as resistance, and its 25-day moving average near 65,700 as support. Market participants said the 25-day line could limit short-term downside, although sellers dominated the September 2 open after earlier sessions had shown sharp morning declines followed by stabilization. Investors also worried that higher oil prices could revive inflation and affect Federal Reserve policy, while rising Japanese long-term rates pressured growth stocks seen as overvalued.