TOKYO, July 1 (Reuters) - Japanese shares inched lower on
Wednesday as investor sentiment soured after the Bank of Japan's
quarterly corporate survey showed the domestic business mood
worsened to an 11-year low because of the coronavirus crisis.
The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 fell 0.19% to 22,246.20
by the midday break.
The Nikkei futures .JNMcm1 fell 0.25% during the midday
recess after Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said
the coronavirus state of emergency could be re-imposed in a
worst case scenario. Tokyo has sought to keep new infection cases below 20 a day
since Japan lifted a state of emergency in late May, but has had
five straight days of more than 50 new cases, as of Tuesday.
The Bank of Japan's tankan survey released on Wednesday
showed the mood among big manufacturers declined to minus 34
last month from minus 8 in March, reaching its lowest level
since June 2009.
The BOJ survey also indicated that big firms plan to raise
capital expenditure by 3.2% in the current fiscal year through
March 2021, higher than initially expected.
E-mini futures for the S&P 500 .Esc1 last quoted down
0.28%, creating an added headwind to Japanese shares.
All but five of 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo exchange
traded in the red. Airlines .IAIRL.T and paper and pulp
.IPAPR.T stocks declined the most, falling 1.76% and 1.64%,
respectively.
Automobile shares were weak despite the softer yen, as the
BOJ survey indicated sentiment among large automobile
manufacturers delined to minus 72 from minus 17 in March.
Suzuki Motor Corp 7269.T slipped 3.39%, Honda Motor Co Ltd
7267.T slumped 1.69% and Nissan Motor Co Ltd 7201.T fell
1.13%.
The broader Topix .TOPX dipped 0.45% to 1,551.80 by the
recess.