Japan’s Nikkei falls for fourth straight session

Japan’s Nikkei fell for a fourth straight session on Friday ahead of U.S. nonfarm payrolls data, while a stronger yen weighed on sentiment.

The index closed down 0.72 percent at 36,391.47 points, after falling about 1.7 percent.

For the week, the index lost 5.15 percent, its worst week since July 26.

The yen rose to a one-month high ahead of U.S. jobs data due later in the day, which could determine the size and pace of future interest rate cuts in the world’s largest economy.

A stronger yen hurts exporters because it reduces the value of overseas earnings in yen when companies repatriate profits to Japan.