Japanese shares decline on US, European falls
By DPA, IANSThursday, January 20, 2011
TOKYO - Japanese stocks fell in Friday morning trading as investor sentiment was hurt by overnight losses in US and European markets.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 90.53 points, or 0.87 percent, to trade at 10,346.78 while the broader Topix index was down 9.72 points, or 1.05 percent, at 917.47.
Investors were cautious ahead of the release of Japanese companies’ earnings reports.
US stocks were down Thursday on concerns that surging growth in China could force interest rates to be tightened further in the Asian powerhouse.
On currency markets at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 82.94-95 yen, up from Thursday’s 5 p.m. quote of 82.19-21 yen.
The euro traded at 1.3466-3468 dollars, up from 1.3423-3424 dollars Thursday, and at 111.68-71 yen, up from 110.33-37 yen.
