Overview

• Nikkei 225 closed down 311.24 points at 45,043.75, marking a second straight decline.
• The yen stood at ¥148.56–¥148.58 per dollar at 5 p.m. in Tokyo, about ¥1.27 stronger than Friday.
• Market participants pointed to a cooler U.S. August PCE reading that eased inflation worries and spurred dollar selling.
• BOJ board member Asahi Noguchi said the need to adjust policy rates has increased, reinforcing yen buying.
• Concerns that a stronger yen would weigh on earnings drove selling in export-linked stocks.