Asian Stocks Close Lower; Nikkei Dips 0.5%

Updated from 12:46 a.m. EST

Asian stocks closed lower Friday over worries that jobs data to be released later in the day in the U.S. will signal the recession in the world's largest economy is deepening.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average fell 0.5% to 8,836.80.

Among individual issues, shares of Toyota(TM Quote) fell 2.2%. A report in the Nikkei business daily said the grandson of Toyota's founder will take the helm of Japan's No. 1 automaker in June. Toyota declined to confirm the report, saying nothing has been decided. ...