Nikkei ends lower on virus worries, but posts weekly gain

TOKYO, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average ended
lower on Friday on concerns over the risks that surging COVID-19
cases in Tokyo could pose to recovery prospects in the world's
third-largest economy, but the index posted a weekly gain.
The benchmark Nikkei share average .N225 lost 0.16% to
26,763.39, while the broader Topix .TOPX was nearly flat at
1,793.24.
The Nikkei and Topix posted weekly gains of 0.41% and 0.63%,
respectively.
Stocks moved in narrow ranges in the afternoon as investors
awaited the Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's press
conference later in the day.
The Japanese capital Tokyo raised its COVID-19 alert level
to the highest of four stages on Thursday as the number of new
cases spiked to a record daily high of 822. The market was also wary of a stronger yen against the
dollar, which last sat at 103.41 yen JPY= after falling as far
as 102.88 yen overnight.
But market losses were capped by a strong Wall Street
performance overnight, said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market
strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management.
All three major U.S. stock indexes closed at record highs on
Thursday on growing optimism about a coronavirus stimulus bill.
.N
Among sectoral gainers, nonferrous metals .INFRO.T rose
1.11%, boosted by investor expectations of rising demand for
electric-vehicle batteries.
Sony Corp 6758.T ended 2.3% higher, after hitting its
highest since October 2000 on stay-at-home demand.
Among individual decliners, Toyota Motor 7203.T fell 1.11%
as investors booked profits after it rallied to the highest
level since August 2015 in the previous session.
The market showed limited reaction to the Bank of Japan's
widely expected decision to extend its package of steps aimed at
easing corporate funding strains due to COVID-19. The Mothers Index .MTHR of start-up firm shares rose 0.1%,
hitting its highest level in 1-1/2 week earlier in the session.