Japan stocks log biggest weekly loss in 9 months as virus wave weighs

By Stanley White
TOKYO, May 14 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks clocked their
biggest weekly loss in nine months as investors refrained from
placing big bets amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases and on U.S.
inflation scare, despite a slight climb in the day on positive
corporate earnings.
The Nikkei 225 Index .N225 ended 2.32% higher at 28,084.47
on Friday, while the broader Topix .TOPX rose 1.86% to
1,883.42.
For the week, the Nikkei fell 4.3% to its biggest loss since
the week ended July 31, 2020.
Technology shares led the advance on Friday as investors
hunted for bargains following a global sell-off in the sector.
Investor concerns over Japan's slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout
and further restrictions on the business activity curbed risk
appetite during the week.
"Japanese shares are trying to chase the U.S. markets
higher, but the economic outlook for both countries is
diverging, so Japanese shares will not be able to keep up," said
Ayako Sera, a market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.
"Japan's vaccination rate is behind the United States, so
its economy recovery will also lag behind."
The largest percentage gainer in the Nikkei index was Isuzu
Motors Ltd 7202.T , which surged by 21.68% after issuing
bullish profit forecasts for the current fiscal year.
IHI Corp 7013.T gained 8.79% after the industrial
equipment maker said it expects this fiscal year's operating
profit to more than double.
Citizen Watch Co Ltd 7762.T also rose 10.71% as investors
cheered the company's latest earnings.
Another notable gainer was Toshiba Corp 6502.T , whose
shares rose 0.89% after the industrial conglomerate said it
expects a 63% surge in annual operating profit this fiscal year.
Toshiba gave up some gains after one of its units said its
European business was hit by a cyber attack.
The largest percentage losses in the index were Nippon Sheet
Glass Co Ltd 5202.T down 14.78%, followed by Toho Zinc Co Ltd
5707.T losing 7.96%, and Oji Holdings Corp 3861.T down by
6.48%.