Tokyo: Stocks close lower ahead of US job data

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks closed lower Wednesday on profit-taking, with investors focused on coronavirus cases and key US jobs data due this week.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index edged down 0.07 per cent or 21.08 points to end at 28,791.53, while the broader Topix index slid 0.30 per cent or 5.91 points to 1,943.57.

"The Nikkei index rose close to the 29,000 level but the gains narrowed on profit-taking," Okasan Online Securities said in a note.

Investors were also eyeing US jobs data for June, which will be announced later this week, and a surge in Covid-19 cases in Britain, the brokerage added.

The dollar fetched 110.49 yen in Asian trade, against 110.53 yen in New York late Tuesday.

In Tokyo, Chugai Pharmaceutical jumped 2.37 per cent to 4,402 yen after a report said the company is asking the health ministry to approve two drugs for treating Covid-19.

Automakers were lower with Toyota losing 0.30 per cent to 9,710 yen, Honda dipping 0.11 per cent to 3,550 yen and Nissan falling 0.63 per cent to 551 yen.

Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing inched down 0.05 per cent to 83,630 yen while SoftBank Group climbed 0.25 per cent to 7,775 yen. Sony dropped 1.68 per cent to 10,815 yen.

AFP