This file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended sharply lower Monday due to concern over Japan's economic recovery amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, while exporters were hit by a firmer yen against the U.S. dollar.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 453.96 points, or 1.62 percent, from Friday at 27,523.19. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 31.41 points, or 1.61 percent, lower at 1,924.98.

       Decliners were led by pulp and paper, warehousing and harbor transportation service, and services issues.

       The U.S. dollar weakened further to the lower 109 yen range in Tokyo after investors sold the currency late last week following an unexpected fall in the University of Michigan's American consumer sentiment index for August led to declines in U.S. Treasury yields, dealers said.

       Stocks were in negative territory throughout the day, with the Nikkei benchmark falling for the third straight session and briefly plunging nearly 2 percent, or over 500 points, dragged down by the country's struggle to contain an alarming rise in COVID-19 infections.

       "The surge does not seem to be relenting, while the situation is proving to be difficult to bring under control," said Masashi Samizo, senior market analyst at SMBC Trust Bank, adding that the market was further weighed down by lower-than-expected industrial output data from China released earlier in the day.

       Japan logged a total of 17,837 infections Sunday, with the nationwide number of coronavirus patients with severe symptoms hitting a record high for the third straight day.

       Pressure has been growing on the central government to expand the state of emergency that currently covers Tokyo, Osaka and four other amid an increasing strain on the medical system.

       The market was also burdened by a lack of positive trading cues as the earnings season comes to a close, although recent record highs on the Dow Jones index may possibly support sentiment throughout the week, Samizo added.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,944 to 196, while 48 ended unchanged.

       Exporters were hit after the yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar, with automaker Nissan Motor declining 23.4 yen, or 3.8 percent, to 593.5 yen. Electronics manufacturer Panasonic dropped 33.0 yen, or 2.4 percent, to 1,325.5 yen, and Sharp slipped 25 yen, or 1.6 percent, to 1,520 yen.

       However, Fujifilm Holdings surged 541 yen, or 6.8 percent, to 8,517 yen, after revising upward on Friday its net profit estimate for the business year through March by 23.1 percent, compared with the previous projection in May.

       Citizen Watch jumped 43 yen, or 9.8 percent, to 481 yen, after the watch manufacturer said Friday it had revised upward its earnings estimate for the business year through March, raising its operating profit outlook by 38.0 percent compared with the previous forecast in May.

       Trading volume on the main section rose to 1,036.55 million shares from Friday's 992.10 million shares.

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