Yen strength drags down Japan exporters

Falls on Wall Street have been followed by many Asian markets opening down on Friday.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 has shed 1.48% or 221.56 points at the start to 15,516.17.
The strength in the Japanese yen is in putting pressure on shares in exporting companies. The yen surged to a 17-month high against the US dollar overnight.

The dip in the US currency follows the release of Federal Reserve minutes.
The minutes published earlier this week pointed to concerns about the US central bank’s limited ability to tackle a global economic slowdown.

US stocks closed lower overnight on renewed concerns about the state of the global economy.
Over in South Korea the benchmark Kospi index has also opened down by 0.65% or 12 points at 1,961.10.

In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 kicked off Friday’s trading session in the red, giving up 50 points or 1% and the index is hovering around 4,915.70.