Japanese Stocks Close Lower after Ebola Reports

Japan stocks reversed gains and ended modestly lower on Monday, following reports that a Japanese man may have been infected with the Ebola virus.

The Nikkei Average   NIK, -0.50% retreated 0.5% at the close to 17,729.84, with the broader Topix I0000, +0.03% finishing 0.2% lower.

Meanwhile, the yen USDJPY, +0.06% traded at ¥120.33 against the greenback, compared with ¥120.35 in the previous session.

Earlier in the day, a Japanese man was being tested for the Ebola virus after returning to Tokyo from Sierra Leone, according to various media reports, citing the country’s health ministry.

Among market movers, Mazda Motor Corp. 7261, -2.05% fell 2.1%, Tokyo Electron Ltd. 8035, -1.65% lost 1.7%, Nintendo Co., Ltd. 7974, -1.48% declined 1.5%. However, media conglomerate Sony Corp. 6758, +0.41% bucked the trend and rose 0.4%, after it reported over $15 million in online revenues for its comedy “The Interview.”

Elsewhere, the Hang Seng Index HSI, +1.82% climbed 1.8%, catching up with the Shanghai markets after returning from a four-day weekend, as recent reports said China’s central bank had changed its rules to allow deposits from non-bank financial institutions to count as reserves, a measure aimed at increasing lending and boosting growth.

Over on the Chinese mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +0.33% extended a three-day winning streak, up 0.3% at 3,168.02.

In other Asian markets, Sydney’s S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +1.47% advanced 1.5% to 5,473.80, while Seoul’s Kospi Composite Index SEU, -1.04% fell 1% 1,927.86.

Source: MarketWatch