TOKYO, JAPAN - The Nikkei average slipped 1.3 per cent at the open on Monday, with shares falling across the board, hit by a stronger yen and after Wall Street tumbled on weak consumer spending data and renewed worries about Citigroup's balance sheet.

The benchmark Nikkei shed 130.97 points to 9,903.77 at the open before falling to its lowest point in three weeks.

The broader Topix lost 1.2 per cent to 883.80 at the open.

Shares of Sony Corp were bid lower and Panasonic Corp fell after signalling the worst may be over for the world's two largest consumer electronics makers as they raised their full-year outlooks, helped by cost cuts.