Tokyo stocks open flat
TOKYO – Tokyo stocks opened almost flat on Friday amid investor jitters over European measures to resolve the debt crisis.
The benchmark Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange opened down 3.11 points or 0.04 percent at 8,679.04
A European Union summit due on Sunday will now be followed by a second summit by Wednesday, the leaders of France and Germany said.
Investors are keen to see how European leaders propose to tackle the region’s debt problems, said Hideyuki Ishiguro, supervisor of investment strategy at Okasan Securities.
“Doubts still remain on whether something solid will come out of the meeting,” Ishiguro said. “The wait-and-see mood will likely continue until Wednesday.”
The Greek parliament Thursday adopted controversial austerity measures demanded by the debt-ravaged nation’s creditors, but thousands of protestors poured into the streets before the vote and violence broke out.
US shares were mixed Thursday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ending a choppy session up 0.32 percent at 11,541.78. Crude oil futures prices were seemingly unaffected by the death of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
The euro firmed to $1.3795 and 106.02 in early Asian trade Friday from $1.3772 and 105.81 yen in New York late Thursday.
The dollar edged up to 76.86 yen from 76.78 yen.
— Dow Jones Newswires contributed to this story —
