Stock prices in Tokyo on Tuesday were pulled down by selling in exporters amid worries about the Japanese yen's strength, but most other Asian markets finished up. Japan's Nikkei Stock Average of 225 selected issues slipped 37.94 points, or 0.34 percent, to 11,035.83. The index rose 27.82 points, or 0.25 percent, Monday. Traders sold exporters after the yen's recent rise against the U.S. dollar. A strong yen suppresses the overseas earnings of Japanese companies when converted to yen. It also makes Japanese goods more expensive abroad. Sony Corp. fell 2.3 percent and Honda Motor Co. lost 1.5 percent. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. retreated 0.5 percent while Toyota Motor Corp. shed 0.3 percent. Canon Inc. and Advantest Corp. also declined. Auto makers were mixed as Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. closed lower, but Nissan Motor Co. rose. But the dollar recovered ground in Tuesday trading. It bought 105.90 yen late Tuesday in Tokyo, up 0.26 yen from late Monday in Tokyo and above the 105.65 yen it bought in New York late Monday. The greenback also gained against the euro. The euro dropped to US$1.2983 late Tuesday afternoon from US$1.3020 late Monday and to 137.48 yen from 137.62 yen. --more 1434 Local Time 1134 GMT
