Tokyo: Nikkei index closes down on virus worries
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[TOKYO]
TOKYO'S benchmark Nikkei index closed lower on Friday as worries over rising coronavirus cases in Japan weighed on the market.
The Nikkei 225 index slid 0.14 per cent, or 37.87 points, to end at 27,977.15, while the broader Topix index was up 0.15 per cent, or 2.84 points, at 1,956.39.
Okasan Online Securities said: "The Nikkei index rose following gains of US shares, but was weighed down by rapidly expanding Covid-19 infections in Japan."
Although the country has seen a comparatively small Covid-19 outbreak overall, the latest wave driven by the more infectious Delta variant has been pushing daily case numbers to new records. Tokyo's virus advisory board on Thursday described the infection situation in the city as "uncontrollable".
Tokyo and five other regions are currently under a virus state of emergency, which bans bars and restaurants from serving alcohol and asks them to close by 8 pm.
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Profit-taking following rallies in individual shares on sound earnings are also capping rallies in the Japanese market, analysts said.
AFP
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