Tokyo stocks open down 0.56%

Tokyo shares opened 0.56 percent lower on Monday after falls on Wall Street last week as markets awaited the outcome of a US presidential election that is too close to call. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 50.41 points at 9,000.81 at the start. "The US data (released Friday) were generally positive, but markets are apprehensive ahead of the hotly contested US presidential vote" on Tuesday, said Hiroichi Nishi, general manager of equities at SMBC Nikko Securities. US October non-farm payrolls increased by a seasonally adjusted 171,000, well ahead of expectations, while September factory orders also rose. The dollar was changing hands at 80.41 yen in early Asian trade compared with 80.47 yen in New York late Friday. The euro bought $1.2823 and 103.11 yen, down from $1.2835 and 103.30 yen. -- Dow Jones Newswires contributed to this article --