Asian shares open lower on concern for US recovery

Asian stock markets stumbled early Friday, falling lower after downbeat forecasts from retailers in the U.S. pulled shares down on Wall Street.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index fell 1.8 percent to 4752.27, while South Korea's Kospi slipped 1.1 percent to 1720.38. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 1.1 percent at 4,431.5.

The broad declines followed a dour showing in New York, where lackluster economic news pulled shares lower. Unemployment benefit claims failed to show hiring was increasing last week, durable good orders slipped last …