Tokyo stocks opened lower Friday as sentiment was dampened by the prevailing view that the Bank of Japan is likely to end its monetary easing policy while the related surge in the yen hurt exporters.
In the first 15 minutes of trading, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 352.14 points, or 1.07 percent, from Thursday to 32,506.17. The broader Topix index was down 17.44 points, or 0.74 percent, at 2,342.47.
On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by transportation equipment, real estate and marine transportation issues.
In New York overnight, the dollar briefly hit a four-month low of 141.60 yen. The yen was bought after comments by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on Thursday that the end of this year and the beginning of the next could be "challenging," fueling speculation the central bank could soon move away from its ultraeasy monetary policy.
At 9 a.m., the dollar fetched 144.23-26 yen compared with 144.13-23 yen in New York and 145.67-69 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.
The euro was quoted at $1.0788-0792 and 155.61-66 yen against $1.0788-0798 and 155.51-61 yen in New York and $1.0780-0781 and 157.04-08 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.
