Tokyo - Stocks in Tokyo edged down in Monday morning trading as a stronger yen hurt export-oriented shares. Investors were also concerned about budget deficits in some European countries.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell below 10,000 at one point for the first time in almost two months.
By the end of the morning session, it had lost 49.11 points, or 0.49 per cent, to trade at 10,007.98 while the broader Topix index was down 4.03 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 887.75.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 89.27-28 yen, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 89.51-53 yen.
The euro traded at 1.3643-3644 dollars, down from 1.3687-3689 dollars Friday, and at 121.78-81 yen, down from 122.51-55 yen.
Japanese exporters are a driving force for the nation's economy. A stronger yen makes their goods less competitive abroad and erodes their overseas earnings when the revenues are repatriated.
