The stock exchange in Japan closed again on Thursday with a loss. Virus concerns gripped the market. In Tokyo, the virus alert was raised to the highest level, following a record increase in the number of corona infections in the Japanese capital.

A more expensive Japanese yen also weighed on the share prices of the country’s major export companies.

The Nikkei in Tokyo was down 0.4 percent on the day at 25,634.34 points. It was the second loss in a row. Earlier this week, the Japanese main index reached its highest level in more than 29 years due to optimism about the corona vaccines.

Pharmaceutical Astellas Pharma and bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group were in the tail group with minuses of 2.2 percent and 1.5 percent. Medicine maker Daiichi Sankyo and trading house Itochu topped the list with profits of 2.7 percent and 2.3 percent.

The other major stock market indicators in the Asian region showed a mixed picture. In Shanghai, the stock market indicator was up 0.4 percent in the meantime. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Beijing would take measures to boost domestic consumption to support the economy during the corona crisis.

The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong fell 0.5 percent, and in Seoul, the Kospi lost 0.1 percent. The All Ordinaries in Sydney climbed 0.3 percent, led by the four central Australian banks. More robust than expected job growth in Australia in October supported trade.