The Nikkei is down over 2.8% today with exporters feeling the pinch by a stronger yen. Panasonic -7%, after forecasting a bigger than expected loss, Sony -6%, Toyota -3%, Honda -3.6%. Chugai, which distributes the Tamiflu, bucked the trend rising 5.6% after reports showed a rise in H1N1 flu cases among the Japanese who had not been abroad.

Elsewhere, the ASX200 is down 1.3% with miners and oil stocks leading the market lower. Oil had fallen nearly 4% on Friday as traders became pessimistic about the global outlook for enegy demand. BHP -2%, RIO -3%, Woodside petroleum -2%. Banking stocks also lower after the recent run of capital raising.