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Japanese Stocks Slide as Renewed Middle East Tensions Stoke Energy Supply Fears

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-- Japanese shares fell during the opening session on Friday, as rising tensions in the Middle East revived worries about energy supplies.

The Nikkei 225 dropped 179.83 points, or 0.3%, to start the day at 62,654.01.

Brent crude surged to over $100 per barrel, amid concerns of a prolonged shutdown of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

On the domestic front, Japanese workers' real wages rose for the third consecutive month in March, which will influence the Bank of Japan's future rate hike decision.

Inflation-adjusted wages increased by 1% compared with a year earlier, easing from a revised 2% gain in February, according to a labor ministry report on Friday.

The reading marked the first time since 2021 that real wages have climbed for three straight months.

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