A TV cameraman films monitor screens displaying abrupt surge of the U.S. dollar currency rate against the Japanese Yen traded on the Tokyo foreign exchange market at a dealing room in Tokyo Monday, Oct. 31, 2011 after Japanese monetary authorities intervened in the currency market to weaken the yen. Monday's action, confirmed by Finance Minister Jun Azumi, came after the Japanese currency had surged to a post-World War II high of 75.32 yen against the dollar earlier Monday. By 11:45 a.m., Tokyo time, the dollar has risen sharply to 79.19 yen. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
A TV cameraman films monitor screens displaying abrupt surge of the U.S. dollar currency rate against the Japanese Yen traded on the Tokyo foreign exchange market at a dealing room in Tokyo Monday, Oct. 31, 2011 after Japanese monetary authorities intervened in the currency market to weaken the yen. Monday's action, confirmed by Finance Minister Jun Azumi, came after the Japanese currency had surged to a post-World War II high of 75.32 yen against the dollar earlier Monday. By 11:45 a.m., Tokyo time, the dollar has risen sharply to 79.19 yen. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets were mostly lower Monday as investors shifted their focus from Europe's debt woes to the strength of the U.S. economy. Japan sold the yen to limit its export-sapping strength.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.2 percent to 9,035.95 despite the currency intervention. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 1.2 percent to 19,782.32 and South Korea's Kospi was 0.9 percent lower at 1,912.58.
Benchmarks in Australia, mainland China, Singapore and Taiwan also fell, while those in New Zealand, India and Thailand rose.
The dollar surged about 5 percent to above 79 yen after Japan sold its currency, which had earlier hit a new post World War II high against the greenback.
The strong yen has dented earnings of Japanese corporations such as Nintendo Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. and hurt the economy's recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Finance Minister Jun Azumi said monetary authorities could continue intervening.
Last week, investors were cheered by the debt crisis deal reached by European leaders. European banks were asked to take a 50 percent loss on their holdings of Greek government bonds. They will also set aside more money to cushion against future losses. Leaders also pledged to expand the European Union's bailout fund.
But economists caution that many details in the plan still have to be worked out, including the difficult task of deciding who will pay for it.
"With more questions than answers markets will be hungry for further details over coming weeks and until then it is difficult to see risk appetite stretching too far," analysts at Credit Agricole CIB wrote in a research note.
This week, investors will likely turn their attention to the U.S.
A key jobs report for October, a Federal Reserve policy meeting and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's quarterly news conference are all due.
A report Thursday showed that the U.S. economy expanded at a solid 2.5 percent annual rate in the July-September quarter. That helped ease concerns that another recession might be nearing.
But while the economy is growing, it may not be enough to generate many jobs. The U.S. unemployment rate has been stuck 9.1 percent for three months. Analysts expect roughly 100,000 jobs to be added in October. Anything less could raise concerns that the economy may slow.
In currencies Monday, the euro fell to $1.4034 from $1.4170 on Friday in New York. The dollar sprinted to 79.18 yen from 75.76 yen.
Benchmark crude for December delivery was down 63 cents at $92.69 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 64 cents to settle at $93.32 in New York on Friday.
Associated Presseli manning eli manning new york giants cbs richard pryor richard pryor don t ask don t tell
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