Japan Shares Drop Due to Coronavirus Fears

Japanese shares fell on Thursday, April 8, as they came under pressure from a rise in domestic infections with the Coronavirus and the possible return of restrictions on economic activity.

The Nikkei index fell 0.07% to 29,708.98 points, while the broader Topix index fell 0.79% to 1,951.86 points.

The Tokyo governor said she would ask the central government to adopt emergency measures in the capital to combat a sudden increase in coronavirus infections and the spread of a new strain of the virus. The city of Osaka, in the west of the country, is also expected to declare a medical emergency after the number of new infections in it rose to a record level, which raised a state of anxiety among public health officials.