Tokyo stocks open down 0.20%

Tokyo stocks opened 0.20 percent lower on Tuesday as investors awaited the outcome of the closely contested US presidential election between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 17.86 points at 8,989.58 at the start. The benchmark index was expected to stay in a limited range with the result of the November 6 US vote due some time on Wednesday, Japan time. "Players remain on edge as the outcome is simply too close to call," Hiroichi Nishi, general manager of equities at SMBC Nikko Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires. The dollar hit nearly a two-month high against the euro Monday on renewed worries about Greece's debt crisis and with the US election looming. The euro bought $1.2796 in early Asian trade against $1.2791 late Monday in New York where the European common currency had briefly fallen to $1.2767, its lowest level since September 11. The euro also fetched 102.60 yen against 102.69 yen in US trade while the dollar was trading at 80.16 yen against 80.28 yen. Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 leading developed and emerging nations pressed the United States and Europe to swiftly resolve their fiscal challenges on Monday as they ended two-day talks in Mexico City. They vowed to do "everything necessary" to strengthen the world economy, reduce volatility in financial markets and generate jobs. US stocks scored gains Monday on the eve of the presidential vote, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 0.15 percent at 13,112.44.