Tokyo  - The Japanese market started the week lower Monday as investors sold shares to lock in profits from the previous week's gains.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 151.91 points, or 1.76 per cent, to 8,475.06.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 15.91 points, or 1.93 per cent, to 808.62.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 98.05-10 yen, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 97.88-91 yen.

The euro traded at 1.3265-70 dollars, down from late Friday's quote of 1.3564-67 dollars, and at 130.10-15 yen, down from 132.79-83 yen. (dpa)