New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- Wall Street stocks fell sharply on Thursday as the escalating conflict in the Middle East pushed crude oil prices above $105 a barrel, while fresh US producer price data for August fuelled expectations of a possible interest rate hike this month.

At the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 88.8 points, or 0.17%, to 52291.85. The S&P 500 fell 41.6 points, or 0.55%, to 7594.74​, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 232.3 points, or 0.88%, to 26021.052.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, climbed above $105 a barrel, while US crude futures moved above $100 for the first time since May. Investors remained concerned about the prolonged US-Iran conflict, with no immediate signs of a resolution.

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