TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo stocks opened 0.49 per cent lower on Tuesday after a setback on Wall Street and the dollar's fall against the yen.

The Nikkei 225 index fell 75.17 points to 15,304.27 at the start.

"Attention is now turning to US corporate earnings, and the US Fed's stance on monetary policy, especially the pace of stimulus tapering after last week's strong jobs data," said Rakuten Securities senior market analyst Masayuki Doshida.

The US central bank is to release on Wednesday minutes of its most recent policy meeting, at which it kept policy on hold as it showed faith in a modest rebound.

US stocks fell Monday, retreating from last week's records as analysts pointed to profit taking and to predictions from some experts that the market was due for a pullback.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.26 per cent to 17,024.21.

The dollar was at 101.79 yen early Tuesday, down from 101.87 yen in New York Monday afternoon and 102.11 yen in Tokyo earlier Monday.

The euro bought US$1.3606 and 138.50 yen against US$1.3604 and 138.59 yen in US trade Monday.