TOKYO – Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei index closed lower today ahead of a fresh state of emergency in the Japanese capital and as investors eyed a key US Senate race.
The Nikkei 225 index fell 0.38%, or 102.69 points, to end at 27,055.94, while the broader Topix index was up 0.28%, or 4.96 points, to 1,796.18.
Traders were watching the elections in Georgia, United States whose outcome will decide who controls the US Senate and shape the early course of Joe Biden’s presidency.
“A sense of caution has strengthened along with the prospect of a triple-blue United States, with losses in US futures,” Okasan Online said.
Officials have yet to declare a winner for either of the two seats at stake, but Democrat Raphael Warnock claimed victory against Republican Kelly Loeffler, who has not conceded defeat.
In Tokyo, eyes were also on the government as it prepared to declare a state of emergency focusing largely on bars and restaurants in the capital and surrounding regions to fight a surge in Covid-19 infections.
“Concerns have spread as a state of emergency is expected to be declared for greater Tokyo tomorrow,” said Masayuki Kubota, chief strategist at Rakuten Securities.
Officials have said the anti-virus measures will be “focused” and “limited” and reports suggest the state of emergency will last for around a month.
But Shigeru Omi, head of the government coronavirus advisory panel, said yesterday that one month was not long enough to drive down contagion effectively.
The measures carry no penalties for non-compliance, but a similar emergency request was widely observed this spring.
In Tokyo trading, Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing sank 2.47% to 86,960 yen while Sony lost 2.27% to 10,330 yen.
Panasonic was up 0.93% at 1,242 yen while SoftBank Group rose 1.24% to 8,120 yen.– AFP, January 6, 2021
