Tokyo, Japan (BBN)-Japanese markets have started the week lower, as a surge in the yen hurt stocks of export firms.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 3.37 per cent at the open - or 562.10 points - to 16,103.95, reports BBC.
Shares of Japanese carmaker Toyota were down by nearly 5 per cent.
The yen shot up after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) held off on fresh stimulus last Thursday.
On Friday the yen was at about 108 yen against the dollar.
It strengthened a little on Monday to around 106.31 yen.
In South Korea the Kospi has started lower by 0.5 per cent at 1,983.99 points.
Australian earnings
Meanwhile, Australia's Westpac has reported a 3 per cent rise in profits for the six months to March.
Earnings rose to A$3.9bn ($2.96bn; £2.02bn).
Industry analysts were expecting the figure to come in just above A$4bn.
Westpac has attributed the shortfall to higher debt charges. Westpac shares opened lower by 4 per cent on the Sydney stock market.
The benchmark S&P ASX 200 was lower by 0.8 per cent at 5,210 points.
Westpac is Australia's third largest lender.
It's bigger rivals will release their half-year results later in the week.
Chinese data
Figures from the weekend showed that there could be some stability in China, the world's second biggest economy.
The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) on Sunday showed a reading of 50.1 for April, compared to 50.2 in March.
A figure above 50 indicates an expansion.
The PMI tracks activities in factories and workshops.
Markets in China and Hong Kong are shut on Monday for the Labour Day holiday.
BBN/SK/AD