The strength of the yen, Japan is dragging down exporters

Falls on Wall Street followed the discovery of many Asian markets down on Friday.
Japanese benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 1.48% or 221.56 points to 15,516.17 at the start.

The strength of the Japanese yen in putting pressure on the stocks of exporting companies. The yen rose to a 17-month high against the US dollar overnight.

The failure of the American currency should be the release of the Fed minutes.

Protocols, published earlier this week pointed to concerns about the limited ability of the US central bank to address the global economic downturn.

US stocks closed lower overnight on renewed fears about the state of the world economy.
Over in South Korea's benchmark Kospi index also opened down 0.65% or 12 points to 1,961.10.
In Australia, S & P / ASX 200 test started Friday's trading session in negative territory, giving up 50 points, or 1%, and the index is around 4,915.70.