This Oct. 1, 2020 file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks fell Wednesday after a drop in crude oil futures hit energy shares and the yen's strength against the U.S. dollar dragged down export-related issues.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 276.26 points, or 0.96 percent, from Tuesday at 28,366.95. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 16.82 points, or 0.86 percent, lower at 1,937.68.
Every industry category lost ground except for precision instrument issues. Major decliners were led by mining, oil and coal product, and insurance issues.
The U.S. dollar moved in a tight range around the mid-110 yen level most of the day but edged higher in late Asian trading on modest buying after the yen, perceived as a haven asset, was supported earlier by the release Tuesday of U.S. data showing slower-than-expected growth in the services sector.
At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 110.63-65 yen compared with 110.58-68 yen in New York and 110.77-78 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.1825-1826 and 130.82-86 yen against $1.1818-1828 and 130.76-86 yen in New York and $1.1872-1873 and 131.51-55 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.010 percentage point from Tuesday's close to 0.030 percent, tracking an overnight fall in U.S. Treasury yields after the release of worse-than-expected U.S. nonmanufacturing data.
Stocks lost ground throughout the day in tandem with many other Asian markets after the U.S. nonmanufacturing data cooled investor sentiment over prospects for the U.S. economy.
The Institute for Supply Management said business activity in the services sector registered growth for the 13th consecutive month at 60.1 percent in June, but this was down from a record high in May and weaker than the market consensus.
"Negative sentiment was fueled further by a drop in U.S. crude oil futures and Treasury yields," after the economic data prompted buying of U.S. government bonds, said Kazuo Kamitani, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,709 to 415, while 67 ended unchanged.
Energy-related issues dropped on the back of crude oil futures in New York ending lower Tuesday after hitting the highest level in six years and eight months. The market has been volatile following a standoff over production levels among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major oil producers.
Inpex slipped 32 yen, or 3.7 percent, to 825 yen, and Cosmo Energy Holdings lost 57 yen, or 2.2 percent, to 2,585 yen.
The strong yen pulled down export-related shares, with Toyota Motor falling 60 yen, or 0.6 percent, to 9,734 yen, and Sony Group declining 115 yen, or 1.0 percent, to 11,125 yen.
Bucking the downward trend, Felissimo surged by a daily limit of 300 yen, or 20.5 percent, to 1,763 yen, after the mail order service said Tuesday its operating profit for the March to May business period grew about 18 times from a year earlier.
Trading volume on the main section rose to 1,066.53 million shares from Tuesday's 794.25 million shares.
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