This May 7, 2020 file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Thursday as sentiment was hurt amid concerns over the effects of the new Omicron coronavirus variant on the global economic recovery.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 182.25 points, or 0.65 percent, from Wednesday at 27,753.37. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 10.37 points, or 0.54 percent, lower at 1,926.37.

       Decliners were led by mining, air transportation, and precision instrument issues.

       The U.S. dollar hovered around the lower 113 yen range in Tokyo as the unit was sold after the United States confirmed its first case of the Omicron variant, dealers said.

       Stocks tracked overnight losses in New York shares following the first case of the Omicron variant in the United States, and as Japan reported its second case of the new strain Wednesday.

       Tokyo stocks briefly moved into positive territory in the morning on bargain-hunting and firm U.S. stock futures but mostly remained in negative range throughout the day's trading.

       "Sentiment has been weighed down by both the confirmation of an Omicron case in the United States, as well as concerns over the U.S. Federal Reserve's recent hawkish stance," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co.

       Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday before a Senate committee that the U.S. central bank would consider speeding up monetary stimulus tapering.

       Issues related to the normalization and reopening of economic activities, such as department stores, have been especially hurt by reports on the Omicron variant, although a slight rise in Asian shares buoyed the market in the afternoon, Miura added.

       Meanwhile, some investors look to a meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC Plus, later in the day, as well as November U.S. jobs data to be released Friday, brokers said.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,431 to 667, while 86 ended unchanged.

       Among retail issues, Takashimaya sagged 35 yen, or 3.5 percent, to 977 yen, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings fell 28 yen, or 3.6 percent, to 748 yen, and J. Front Retailing, the operator of the Daimaru and Matsuzakaya department stores, was down 36 yen, or 3.8 percent, at 909 yen.

       Energy-related shares also dropped after crude oil futures fell to their lowest level since August in New York trading.

       Inpex sank 25 yen, or 2.7 percent, to 913 yen, and Idemitsu Kosan declined 44 yen, or 1.5 percent, to 2,872 yen.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 1,348.49 million shares from Wednesday's 1,441.19 million shares.

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