Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened lower Monday on Wall Street's falls before the weekend and a stronger yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 176 points, or 1.35 per cent, to 12,896.87.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 18.82 points, or 1.5 per cent, to 1,235.89.

Exporters were hurt as a stronger yen affects Japanese companies' earnings overseas. Also, reports of a slowdown of US consumer spending in July raised fears of lower demand for Japanese products.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 108.45-50 yen, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 108.79-81 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.4695-4700 dollars, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 1.4740-41 dollars, and at 159.40-45 yen, down from 160.36-40 yen. (dpa)