TOKYO – TOKYO (AP) — Asian stock markets fell in early trading Friday as disappointing U.S. jobs data sparked fresh concerns over a recovery in the world's biggest economy.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average tumbled 170.73 points, or 1.6 percent, to 10,449.82.
Among Japanese blue chips, Sony Corp. plunged 6.7 percent to 2,954 yen after its operating profit forecast fell short of economists' expectations.
Investors also dumped banking shares in Tokyo after the New York attorney general launched a probe into eight banks to determine whether they misled rating agencies about mortgage securities.
South Korea's Kospi shed 0.5 percent to 1,686.37. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was down 0.9 percent at 4,638.30.
China's benchmark index in Shanghai slipped 0.6 percent to 2,694.63. Shares in Taiwan and Singapore also fell in early trading.
Sentiment in Asia turned downbeat after a U.S. Labor Department report Thursday showed U.S. claims for jobless benefits were not falling fast enough to signal steady job growth. High unemployment remains a primary obstacle to a U.S. economic recovery.
The U.S. government said first-time claims for jobless benefits dipped to 444,000 last week from an upwardly revised 448,000 the previous week — the consensus in the markets was for a drop to 440,000.
The disappointing job report triggered selling on Wall Street on Thursday, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling 113.96 points, or 1.1 percent, to 10,782.95.
In currencies, the dollar edged up to 92.80 yen in Tokyo from 92.75 yen in New York late Thursday. The euro stood at $1.2543 from $ 1.2519.
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