<p>Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index closed lower on Thursday, extending falls on Wall Street, as investors locked in profits from recent rises.</p>.<p>The Nikkei 225 index, which hit near-three-decade highs earlier this month, fell 0.36 per cent, or 93.80 points, to 25,634.34, but the broader Topix index gained 0.33 per cent, or 5.76 points, to 1,726.41.</p>.<p>"Investors continued to cash in on recent gains" after watching US shares falling overnight, said Shinichi Yamamoto, a broker at Okasan Securities in Tokyo.</p>.<p>Wall Street stocks fell for a second straight session, tumbling after New York City ordered public schools closed, with anxiety over the coronavirus deepening.</p>.<p>"But market sentiment here remains solid and bargain-hunting can emerge at any time," Yamamoto told AFP.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Thursday that Japan was on "maximum alert" after the number of daily infection cases across the nation topped 2,000 for the first time.</p>.<p>"But the impact on the market appeared limited as the government did not announce fresh restrictions," Yamamoto said.</p>.<p>The dollar fetched 103.78 yen in Asian afternoon trade, against 103.85 yen in New York late Wednesday.</p>.<p>In Tokyo, airlines were among losers, with Japan Airlines falling 0.80 per cent to 1,960 yen and ANA Holdings down 0.19 per cent at 2,564 yen on profit-taking.</p>.<p>Toyota lost 0.24 per cent to 7,301 yen but Sony rise 0.12 per cent to 9,249 yen.</p>.<p>Panasonic jumped 1.63 per cent at 1,086.5 yen after the firm said it has signed a partnership with two Norwegian firms to develop a "green battery" business targeting the European market, including for electric cars.</p>
<p>Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index closed lower on Thursday, extending falls on Wall Street, as investors locked in profits from recent rises.</p>.<p>The Nikkei 225 index, which hit near-three-decade highs earlier this month, fell 0.36 per cent, or 93.80 points, to 25,634.34, but the broader Topix index gained 0.33 per cent, or 5.76 points, to 1,726.41.</p>.<p>"Investors continued to cash in on recent gains" after watching US shares falling overnight, said Shinichi Yamamoto, a broker at Okasan Securities in Tokyo.</p>.<p>Wall Street stocks fell for a second straight session, tumbling after New York City ordered public schools closed, with anxiety over the coronavirus deepening.</p>.<p>"But market sentiment here remains solid and bargain-hunting can emerge at any time," Yamamoto told AFP.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Thursday that Japan was on "maximum alert" after the number of daily infection cases across the nation topped 2,000 for the first time.</p>.<p>"But the impact on the market appeared limited as the government did not announce fresh restrictions," Yamamoto said.</p>.<p>The dollar fetched 103.78 yen in Asian afternoon trade, against 103.85 yen in New York late Wednesday.</p>.<p>In Tokyo, airlines were among losers, with Japan Airlines falling 0.80 per cent to 1,960 yen and ANA Holdings down 0.19 per cent at 2,564 yen on profit-taking.</p>.<p>Toyota lost 0.24 per cent to 7,301 yen but Sony rise 0.12 per cent to 9,249 yen.</p>.<p>Panasonic jumped 1.63 per cent at 1,086.5 yen after the firm said it has signed a partnership with two Norwegian firms to develop a "green battery" business targeting the European market, including for electric cars.</p>