TOKYO: Japanese shares were 1.44 percent lower in early trade Monday after weaker-than-expected US jobs data last week.
The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost 139.31 points to 9,549.91 in early trade. The Topix index of all first-section shares lost 1.25 percent, or 10.32 points, to 815.41.
A disappointing US non-farm payrolls reading Friday weighed on the US dollar and 10-year US treasuries, Tachibana Securities operating officer Kenichi Hirano told Dow Jones Newswires.
Shares in Japanese exporters were likely to fall because of a stronger yen following the disappointing employment data, dealers said.
"Market participants will be cautious over the share performance on Wall Street later Monday, which may lead to another decline Tuesday," as US stock markets were closed for a holiday Friday and have not yet factored in the jobs report, Hirano said.
Markets in Britain, France, Germany and most other European countries were also closed Friday for the Easter holiday.
US unemployment dropped unexpectedly to 8.2 percent in March, the lowest rate in more than three years, despite a mixed picture on hiring and apparent weakness in the retail sector.
Despite the positive headline number, the Labor Department reported Friday that the number of unemployed workers hovered close to 13 million and hiring slowed, a warning sign that the recovery may be in trouble.
The world's biggest economy created a meagre 120,000 jobs in March, much lower than the 200,000 forecast by economists.
The dollar stood at 81.37 yen Monday, down from 82.27 yen in Tokyo trade Friday.
The euro was at $1.3082 and 106.46 yen, from $1.3070 and 107.53 yen. bur-
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