Wall St indexes open lower as oil crosses $100

This version has been refiled to correct a typographical error in the opening paragraph.

Sept 9 (Reuters) – Wall Street's primary indexes got off to a weaker start on Wednesday as oil prices jumped above the market-sensitive $100-per-barrel threshold for the first time since July, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East.

At the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 78.2 points, or 0.15%, at 52,707.9. The S&P 500 had slipped 12.8 points, or 0.17%, to 7,660.68, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 96.4 points, or 0.36%, to 26,325.061.