TOKYO: Tokyo stocks opened 0.28 percent lower on Tuesday as investors awaited the outcome of euro-zone finance ministers' talks on a new bailout for Greece.
The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange opened down 26.41 points at 9,458.68 after European stock markets rose Monday on hopes that second Greek bailout package will finally be approved.
US markets were closed Monday for a holiday.
"If the talks collapse, the euro will be sold massively," leading to falls in the stock markets, said Hideyuki Ishiguro, supervisor at investment strategy at Okasan Securities.
"If talks progress as expected, the effects on the stock market will likely be almost neutral," he told Dow Jones Newswires.
The euro eased to $1.3214 and 105.22 yen in early Asian trade on Tuesday from $1.3237 and 105.36 yen in London late Monday amid jitters over the outcome of the euro-zone meeting in Brussels. The dollar was unchanged at 79.59 yen.
Euro-zone chiefs fought Monday to close a deal for a new Athens bailout as Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos sought improved terms on a key write-down of Greece's debt in a last-minute meeting with banks.
After months of acrimonious debate, all sides expressed confidence that an agreement would be found to green-light a 230 billion euro ($300 billion) financial lifeline, in exchange for strict surveillance of the Athens government over coming years.
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