Total 21 issues of the 33 industry category of Topix index inclined into positive territory, with Services, Chemicals, Precision Instruments, Fishery, Agriculture & Forestry, Machinery, and Foods issues being notable gainers, while Mining, Electric Power & Gas, and Iron & Steel issues were notable losers.
The risk-off mood in the US equities spilled over onto Asian equities after the public health officials have confirmed more than 300 cases of the illness, which has evoked memories of the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in China that killed nearly 800 people and hurt world travel. Health officials have also confirmed virus's outbreak in China, which originated in the city of Wuhan, has reached the United States, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The World Health Organization (WHO) meets later on Wednesday to consider whether the outbreak is an international emergency.
Overnight on Wall Street, stocks declined after the Centers for Disease Control confirmed the first U.S. case of a mysterious coronavirus that has infected hundreds in China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 152.06 points to close at 29,196.04 while the S&P 500 slipped 0.3% to end its trading day at 3,320.79. The Nasdaq Composite also shed 0.2% to close at 9,370.81.
CURRENCY NEWS: The Japanese yen, often viewed as a safe-haven currency in times of economic uncertainty, appreciated against a basket of currencies. The Japanese yen traded at 109.9 per dollar after strengthening from levels above 110 yesterday.
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