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

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Thursday as a rapid increase in COVID-19 infections fueled fears that the Japanese government may extend its current quasi-state of emergency in the capital and nearby areas.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 84.49 points, or 0.29 percent, from Wednesday at 28,707.04. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 4.36 points, or 0.22 percent, lower at 1,939.21.

       Decliners were led by marine transportation, information and communication, and metal product issues.

       The U.S. dollar moved up into the mid 111 yen range on upbeat U.S. private payrolls data released Wednesday, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 111.27-28 yen compared with 111.06-16 yen in New York and 110.54-55 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1847-1849 and 131.82-86 yen against $1.1850-1860 and 131.66-76 yen in New York and $1.1900-1902 and 131.55-59 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.020 percentage point from Wednesday's close to 0.035 percent as the debt was bought after a 10-year bond auction by the Finance Ministry saw solid demand.

       The Nikkei moved in negative territory for most of the day on growing concerns over rising coronavirus infections in Japan, with some investors securing profits in shares such as shippers, brokers said.

       "Investors are concerned that COVID-19 variants, Japan's decelerating vaccine rollout and a potential extension to Tokyo's virus quasi-emergency will hamper the country's economic activity," said Masahiro Yamaguchi, head of investment research at SMBC Trust Bank.

       Tokyo has been experiencing a sharp rebound in coronavirus cases, logging 673 new infections Thursday, since the capital exited a state of emergency and shifted to quasi-emergency measures last month. Some in the government have been speculating on the possibility of another state of emergency for the area.

       A wait-and-see attitude is also prevailing ahead of the release of the U.S. jobs data on Friday, he added.

       Shippers experienced a sharp fall on speculation that a rise in highly contagious coronavirus variants will adversely affect trade, Yamaguchi said.

       Among marine transportation issues, Kawasaki Kisen dropped 185 yen, or 4.6 percent, to 3,810 yen, Nippon Yusen fell 210 yen, or 3.7 percent, to 5,420 yen, while Mitsui O.S.K. Lines slipped 210 yen, or 3.9 percent, to 5,130 yen.

       Mitsubishi Electric dropped 97.50 yen, or 6.0 percent, to 1,515.00 yen, after officials the electronics conglomerate said Wednesday it may have shipped some 84,600 units of train equipment without a proper product inspection.

       Bucking the downward trend, Nitori Holdings rose 420 yen, or 2.1 percent, to 20,080 yen, after the furniture and interior chain store retailer on Wednesday posted a 14.1 percent rise in net profit in the quarter through May from a year earlier.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,297 to 767, while 126 ended unchanged.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 833.23 million shares from Wednesday's 963.36 million shares.

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