Summary Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.43 percent Tuesday morning in subdued trading.
TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo s benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.43 percent Tuesday morning in subdued trading after the yen picked on news that the Bank of Japan would hold off fresh stimulus.
The Nikkei, which was closed Monday for a holiday, was down 59.47 points to 13,824.66 by the break, while the Topix index of all first-section shares rose 0.40 percent, or 4.66 points, to 1,165.85.
Japanese financial markets were closed Monday and will be off again Friday for the Golden Week holiday.
"A weaker dollar from last Friday continues, and that will pose the biggest challenge for stocks in a reduced investor environment," Tatsunori Kawai, chief strategist at kabu.com Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.
"Recent support for US shares is helpful, but not likely to fully offset the stronger yen effect," he added.
In New York Monday, the Dow rose 0.72 percent and the S&P 500 also climbed 0.72 percent, to a record high on renewed confidence in the eurozone after a government was formed in Italy to end a months-long political stalemate.
In forex trading, the dollar was changing hands at 97.89 yen, up from 97.73 yen in New York late Monday.
The dollar is well down, however, from the levels around 99.00 yen seen Thursday before a BoJ policy meeting ended with it holding off new policy announcements after this month s massive stimulus programme.
The euro fetched 128.15 yen, up from 128.01 yen.
Japan s factory output expanded 0.2 percent in March from the previous month, according to official data released 10 minutes before the opening bell.
It was the fourth consecutive monthly factory output rise as separate figures showed unemployment in March was at 4.1 percent, its lowest in more than four years.
In Tokyo stock trading, Japan Airlines was down 0.63 percent at 4,720 yen while rival All Nippon Airways was up 0.47 percent at 210 yen as the carriers prepare to report full-year earnings later Tuesday.
