Tokyo: Stocks open 0.72% lower

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks opened 0.72 per cent lower on Monday after disappointing US jobs data sent the yen rising against the dollar.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost 140.05 points to 19,295.03 at the start.

The dollar tumbled to 118.81 yen by early Monday from 119.62 yen in Tokyo on Friday in a blow to Japanese exporters.

The euro climbed to US$1.0990 from US$1.0879 on Friday, while rising to 130.61 yen from 130.16 yen.

The dollar's sharp drop came after the release Friday of closely watched US payrolls data, which showed employers sharply cut back hiring in March.

In a fresh sign of a slowdown, the world's leading economy generated 126,000 net new jobs in March, half of what was expected and the worst month since December 2013.

The US stock markets were closed on Friday for the Easter holiday.

AFP