TOKYO -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei Stock Average on Friday morning fell as much as 1,313.27 yen, or 3.4%, from the previous day's close as players reacted to reports of Israel striking Iran with missiles.

The downtrend began overnight with high-tech stocks in the U.S. Selling escalated in Tokyo as investors heeded a U.S. media report that Israeli missiles had hit a site in Iran.