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| - Tokyo stocks lost early gains and closed lower on Tuesday as investors grew sceptical about the outcome of a G7 financial chiefs meeting on measures against the spread of the coronavirus. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 1.22 percent, or 261.35 points, to 21,082.73, while the broader Topix index was down 1.36 percent, or 20.75 points, at 1,505.12. Tokyo shares had opened higher as worries over the spread of the virus receded with G7 financial and central bank chiefs set to hold talks on the issue. But they gradually lost ground and closed in negative territory "following news reports that the G7 meeting may not produce practical measures", said Daiwa Securities chief technical analyst Eiji Kinouchi. "But selling pressure was not so strong as downside support appeared solid," Kinouchi told AFP. Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from G7 countries will hold talks on Tuesday with global uncertainty rising over the coronavirus epidemic, the US Treasury said Monday. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell "will lead a call with their G7 counterparts tomorrow morning", the department confirmed in a statement. Top finance officials in Europe separately tried to calm fears about a damaging economic downturn as a result of the epidemic, as did the continent's central bank. A strong yen also discouraged Japanese investors from buying shares, especially exporters, brokers said. The dollar fell to 107.79 yen in Asian afternoon trade from 108.25 yen in New York late Monday. In Tokyo, major exporters were lower. Toyota lost 1.53 percent to 7,044 yen with Nissan down 3.77 percent at 443.1 yen. Honda fell 1.19 percent to 2,763 yen following a report that it will reduce production in its two domestic plants for several days on concerns over the supply of parts from China. Sony fell 0.98 percent to 6,805 yen with Nintendo down 0.78 percent at 36,800 yen. si/sah/qan
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