The Tokyo Stock Exchange was down on Friday morning, as Japanese investors were cautious about the increase in Covid-19 cases in the country and on the eve of the Golden Week holidays.
The Nikkei index of 225 flagship stocks lost 0.28% to 28,973.66 points around 01:00 GMT while the extended Topix index was perfectly stable at 1,909.08 points.
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Japan's unemployment rate fell to 2.6%, and the country's industrial production rebounded 2.2% in March, according to data released on Friday, but economists warn of economic consequences the strengthened measures may have facing the epidemic in the second trimester.
Japan, relatively less affected by the coronavirus than many other countries, this week crossed the 10,000 official death mark since January 2020, and is currently experiencing a surge in cases which has prompted the government to place Tokyo and three other departments under a new state of emergency since Sunday.