Japanese shares end lower as virus worries cloud sentiment

TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) - Japanese shares reversed course
to end lower on Thursday, as renewed concerns about rising cases
of the novel coronavirus in Japan outweighed optimism around
U.S. Federal Reserve's decision and upbeat earnings reports.
The Nikkei 225 index .N225 ended down 0.26% at 22,339.23,
while the broader Topix .TOPX lost 0.62% to 1,539.47.
All but four of the 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo
exchange dropped, with airlines .IAIRL.T , electric and gas
.IEPNG.T and land transport .IRAIL.T leading the declines.
Sentiment turned sour after the Nikkei daily reported Tokyo
plans to urge shorter operating hours for restaurants and
karaoke parlours next month, a day after daily new cases crossed
the 1,000-mark for the first time in Japan. Markets had risen in early trade, tracking a Wall Street
rally after the U.S. Federal Reserve repeated a pledge to use
its "full range of tools" to support the economy and kept the
interest rates near zero. .N
Among individual shares and sectors, ANA Holdings 9202.T
shed 2.81% after the airline reported a quarterly operating loss
of 159 billion yen ($1.51 billion) as the pandemic hit travel.
Kao Corporation 4452.T slipped 5.16% as the toiletry goods
maker cut its profit forecast for the year through March.
Department stores Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings 3099.T
slumped 10.18% to hit a record low after the firm posted a
quarterly loss and forecast a 60 billion yen net loss for the
current fiscal year.
Among gainers, M3 2413.T rose 6.05% to a record high
following a 26.4% jump in its operating profit for the
April-June quarter.
Nomura Holdings 8604.T added 4.5% as it reported its
second-best quarterly profit since 2002.
Nikkei heavyweight SoftBank Group 9984.T added 2.36% after
the tech conglomerate said it had set up a testing centre to
diagnose COVID-19 using saliva.

($1 = 105.2100 yen)