Japanese Markets Open Lower; Nikkei Down Over 50 Points

Japanese stock markets opened lower on Monday. The Nikkei fell around 0.4 percent, after closing at a 6-month high on Friday.

The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.38 percent, or 67 points to 17,379.50, and the TOPIX declined 0.32 percent, or 4.5 points to 1,388.02.

Japan's industrial output came in unchanged for September versus the prior month, versus a growth of 1.3 percent in August, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Japan’s retail sales declined 1.9 percent year-over-year in September, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported.

The U.S. dollar fell to 104.86 yen against the Japanese yen, versus Friday's high of 105.54.

West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 0.53 percent to trade at $48.44 per barrel on the NYMEX, while Brent for December settlement dropped 0.60 percent to $49.41 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Top market movers among the Japanese market are as follows:

• Shares of Nihon Seikan KK (5905) climbed over 25 percent to 162.0 JPY.
• Gremz (3150) shares rose around 15 percent to 1,135.0 JPY.
• Maruman & Co Ltd (7834) shares increased over 15 percent to 197.0 JPY.

• It Holdings Corp (3626) shares dropped around 18 percent to 2,242.0 JPY.
• Espec Corp (6859) shares fell 15 percent to 1,220.0 JPY.
• NGK Insulators, Ltd. (5333) declined over 13 percent to 1,881.0 JPY.