Japanese stocks are lower in early trade as caution over earnings and domestic politics continue. Chip and bank stocks are leading the declines.
Lasertec is down 5.6% and Resona Holdings is 1.6% lower. Meanwhile, a weaker yen is offering some support for the market. USD/JPY is at 150.85, compared with 148.75 as of Thursday's Tokyo stock market close.
Investors are closely watching quarterly corporate results as well as any domestic political developments. Mitsubishi Chemical Group and Hoya Corp. are due to announce their earnings later in the day. The Nikkei Stock Average is down 0.5% at 40867.71.

Sumber : Dow Jones Newswires