TOKYO - Tokyo shares opened 0.39 per cent higher on Tuesday despite an overnight drop on Wall Street amid concern over the strength of the US economic recovery.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange opened up 37.10 points at 9,583.36.

US stocks tumbled Monday after last week's disappointing jobs report showed a slowdown in hiring that raised concerns about the health of the economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell one per cent to close at 12,929.59 as Wall Street got its first chance to react to the government's jobs data, released when the US markets were closed for a holiday on Friday.

But Rakuten Securities senior market analyst Masayuki Doshida said the poor US jobs report had been expected and the impact on Japanese markets had already been factored in.

Steady currency levels could also provide support, he said.

The dollar was at 81.75 yen in early Asian trade, up from 81.49 yen in New York late Monday. The euro bought US$1.3103 and 107.14 yen, compared with US$1.3106 and 106.80 yen.

"The focus is on China's March trade balance and the BoJ's policy decision, while corporate earnings are also eyed," he told Dow Jones Newswires.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is to wrap up a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, with governor Masaaki Shirakawa set to hold a news conference at 0630 GMT.