Tokyo stocks drifted lower on Wednesday after the Japanese capital announced 55 new coronavirus cases, the highest since the country lifted a nationwide state of emergency, as investors searched for direction.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index inched down 0.07 percent, or 14.73 points, to end at 22,534.32, while the broader Topix index fell 0.42 percent, or 6.64 points, to 1,580.50.
The dollar fetched 106.58 yen in Asian trade, against 106.53 yen in New York on Tuesday.
"The Nikkei index opened higher following a lead from Wall Street but a stronger yen weighed on the market," Okasan Online Securities said, adding investors struggled for direction "amid a lack of fresh clues."
The Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed 55 new coronavirus cases, the highest since the lifting of a nationwide state of emergency on May 25.
Compared with hard-hit areas in Europe, the United States and Brazil, Japan has been spared the worst of the pandemic, with around 18,000 infections and 963 deaths.
In Tokyo, SoftBank Group dropped 1.83 percent to 5,396 yen after it said T-Mobile's shares were priced at $103 per share in a $20 billion-plus deal that will let co-owner SoftBank Group offload a stake in the wireless carrier.
Exporters were mixed, with Toyota gaining 1.17 percent to 6,977 yen and Nissan dropping 1.27 percent to 417.6 yen.
Sony edged up 0.13 percent to 7,650 yen while Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing advanced 0.51 percent to 62,970 yen.
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