Tokyo stocks fall as carmakers, electronics firms slump amid strong yen

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.51 per cent, or 291.74 points, to 18,970.79 by the lunch break, while the Topix index of all first-section issues was down 1.37 per cent, or 21.08 points, at 1,522.84.
Exporters sank as the yen strengthened against the US dollar on growing doubts about US President Donald Trump's ability to carry out his economic agenda after Friday's failed healthcare deal.
The yen is seen as a safe bet in times of uncertainty or turmoil, but a stronger currency hurts the profitability of exporters - hitting demand for their shares.
The US dollar slipped to 110.37 yen from 111.12 yen in New York on Friday.
“Markets are likely to start the week in a cautious mode,” Rodrigo Catril, a currency strategist at National Australia Bank, said in a commentary.
“This was the first major attempt by the administration to reform the government and its miserable failure exposes the limits of President Trump's negotiating skills.”
Trump's replacement for Obamacare was pulled on Friday as he failed to garner enough support among Republican lawmakers, who have a majority in both houses of Congress.
Toshiba opened four per cent higher before diving after the leading Nikkei business newspaper said its loss-hit US unit Westinghouse could file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as early as Tuesday in a court-protected restructuring.
The firm went into the lunch break 5.65 per cent down at 210.4 yen. The Nikkei said Westinghouse has turned to Korea Electric Power as a sponsor for its post-Chapter 11 reorganisation.
A Toshiba spokesman declined to comment on the report.
In other trading, Tepco fell 1.64 per cent to 418 yen on a report that the Fukushima plant operator will shuffle its top management.
Toyota dropped 1.25 per cent to 6,151 yen while rival Honda lost 1.74 per cent to 3,380 yen.
Sony fell 1.16 per cent to 3,561 yen, Canon dropped 0.91 per cent to 3,463 yen and Panasonic edged 0.12 per cent lower to 1,192 yen.