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

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Monday as a surge in Omicron variant infections across the world dented market sentiment and deepened uncertainty over the impact on global economic recovery.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 106.13 points, or 0.37 percent, from Friday at 28,676.46. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 8.88 points, or 0.45 percent, lower at 1,977.90.

       Decliners were led by nonferrous metal, electric power and gas, and information and communication issues.

       The U.S. dollar was stuck in the lower 114 yen range as investors mostly sat on the sidelines ahead of the New Year's holidays, dealers said.

       Stocks declined amid a lack of fresh trading cues as some overseas markets were closed Friday for Christmas holidays.

       The market moved in a narrow range in negative territory most of the day, dragged down by record-high COVID-19 numbers in countries including the United States and France, prompting airlines to cancel flights. The strain has also been reported across Japan including in Tokyo and Osaka and Kyoto prefectures.

       "Investors were worried that the pace of global economic recovery will slow as instances of the Omicron strain surpass those of Delta in the United States, while countries such as China log surges not seen since January," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at Nomura Securities Co.'s investment content department.

       But the fall was limited due to demand for stocks associated with semiconductors, while investors waited for more data on the Omicron variant, she added.

       Among chip-related shares, Tokyo Electron added 1,340 yen, or 2.1 percent, to 65,600 yen, and Advantest gained 90 yen, or 0.8 percent, to 10,960 yen.

       Eateries met selling on concerns over a further spread of the new variant in Japan.

       Pub chain operator Watami declined 11 yen, or 1.2 percent, to 884 yen, while Kushikatsu Tanaka Holdings dropped 19 yen, or 1.0 percent, to 1,978 yen.

       SoftBank Group lost 159 yen, or 3.0 percent, to 5,220 yen, following media reports Saturday that Credit Suisse was preparing to take legal action against it to recoup funds linked to the collapse of Greensill Capital.

       Nitori Holdings plunged 1,185 yen, or 6.5 percent, to 16,965 yen, after the furniture and interior chain store retailer on Friday posted a sharp fall in operating profit in the first nine months of this business year through November from a year earlier.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,455 to 635, while 95 ended unchanged.

       Volume on the main section rose to 777.48 million shares from Friday's 746.72 million shares.

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0