Tokyo: Stocks end lower as virus spike hits capital

[TOKYO] Tokyo stocks closed lower on Thursday, with investors rattled by reports the city will ask restaurants and bars to shorten opening hours as coronavirus cases spike in the capital.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 0.26 per cent, or 57.88 points, to 22,339.23, extending its losing streak for a fifth trading day.

The broader Topix index was down 0.62 per cent, or 9.57 points, at 1,539.47.

"Sentiment sagged after news about fresh business restrictions in Tokyo hit the market," said Toshikazu Horiuchi, a broker at IwaiCosmo Securities.

"Investors were also concerned about record infection numbers in Tokyo today," Mr Horiuchi told AFP.

Local media reported that the Tokyo governor would announce plans to ask restaurants and bars to shorten opening hours amid a fresh surge in coronavirus infections in the capital.

Tokyo is expected to hit a record 367 new cases on Thursday, local reports said, about two months after the central government lifted a state of emergency.

Trading was thin with many players sidelined ahead of earnings reports by US tech heavyweights Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google parent Alphabet on Thursday, brokers said.

AFP