( dpa ) - Japan's key Nikkei index fell to a seven-week low Monday on worries over a US recession.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 183.02 points, or 1.43 per cent, to 12,599.78.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 16.77 points, or 1.34 per cent, to 1,231.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 102.27-32 yen, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 102.43-45 yen.
The euro was quoted at 1.5393-98 dollars, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 1.5385-87 dollars, and at 157.40-45 yen, down from 157.59-63 yen.