<p>Japanese shares fell on Thursday as a rise in the yen threatened earnings of export-focused stocks, while uncertainty ahead of the US presidential election weighed on sentiment.</p>.<p>The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.64% to 23,489.27 by 0153 GMT while the broader Topix was down 1.05% at 1,620.32.</p>.<p>The yen jumped to a one-month high against the dollar on Wednesday, pressuring shares of Japanese companies that export autos and consumer goods.</p>.<p>Analysts attributed the yen's move to the broader sell-off in the dollar as investors grow more concerned about stalled negotiations over a new round of US fiscal stimulus.</p>.<p>Some traders are also reducing their exposure to riskier assets ahead of the US elections on Nov. 3, which could cap gains in Japanese shares.</p>.<p>The top underperformers among the Topix 30 on Thursday were Central Japan Railway Co, down 3.78%, followed by drugs maker Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd, losing 3.14%.</p>.<p>Share of ANA Holdings Inc slumped 4.43% to hit the lowest level in more than two months after media reports that the airline will book a record net loss for the fiscal year to March as the pandemic devastates global travel demand.</p>.<p>Weighed down partly by a stronger yen, Toyota Motor Co fell 0.81%, Honda Motor lost 1.67% and Sony Corp slid 0.99%.</p>.<p>The stocks that gained the most among the Topix core 30 names were industrial robot maker Fanuc Corp, up 0.28%, followed by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd, gaining 0.07%.</p>.<p>There were 44 advancers on the Nikkei index against 176 decliners.</p>.<p>The volume of shares traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's main board was 0.33 billion, compared with the average of 1.09 billion in the past 30 days. </p>
<p>Japanese shares fell on Thursday as a rise in the yen threatened earnings of export-focused stocks, while uncertainty ahead of the US presidential election weighed on sentiment.</p>.<p>The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.64% to 23,489.27 by 0153 GMT while the broader Topix was down 1.05% at 1,620.32.</p>.<p>The yen jumped to a one-month high against the dollar on Wednesday, pressuring shares of Japanese companies that export autos and consumer goods.</p>.<p>Analysts attributed the yen's move to the broader sell-off in the dollar as investors grow more concerned about stalled negotiations over a new round of US fiscal stimulus.</p>.<p>Some traders are also reducing their exposure to riskier assets ahead of the US elections on Nov. 3, which could cap gains in Japanese shares.</p>.<p>The top underperformers among the Topix 30 on Thursday were Central Japan Railway Co, down 3.78%, followed by drugs maker Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd, losing 3.14%.</p>.<p>Share of ANA Holdings Inc slumped 4.43% to hit the lowest level in more than two months after media reports that the airline will book a record net loss for the fiscal year to March as the pandemic devastates global travel demand.</p>.<p>Weighed down partly by a stronger yen, Toyota Motor Co fell 0.81%, Honda Motor lost 1.67% and Sony Corp slid 0.99%.</p>.<p>The stocks that gained the most among the Topix core 30 names were industrial robot maker Fanuc Corp, up 0.28%, followed by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd, gaining 0.07%.</p>.<p>There were 44 advancers on the Nikkei index against 176 decliners.</p>.<p>The volume of shares traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's main board was 0.33 billion, compared with the average of 1.09 billion in the past 30 days. </p>