Japan’s stocks completed a weekly decline as the rising death toll from China’s coronavirus damped demand for riskier assets.
Automakers and retail companies were the heaviest drags on the Topix index, with the yen little changed after a three-day gain against the dollar. China is rushing to halt the spread of a new coronavirus as the death toll rose to 25. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would strengthen measures to tackle the virus and do everything possible to prevent its spread in Japan.
Topix little changed at 1,730.44 as of 3 p.m. close in Tokyo; down 0.3% for the week. Nikkei 225 +0.1% at 23,827.18; down 0.9% for the week. Yen little changed at 109.53 per U.S. dollar after gaining for past three days.
Source: Bloomberg