TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened lower on Wednesday, extending losses on global bourses amid continued worries about trade conflicts.
The Nikkei 225 index was down 0.25 percent or 57.20 points at 22,639.70 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 0.36 percent or 6.26 points at 1,711.98.
“Following directionless trade on Tuesday, we are seeing another day without clues for trade, and selling may dominate the market,” SBI Securities said in a commentary.
The dollar fetched 111.43 yen in early Asian trade, against 111.45 yen in New York late Tuesday.
Investors were eyeing the latest in the ongoing spat between the US and Canada after President Donald Trump again threatened to leave Canada out of a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement.
Talks with Ottawa are set to resume in Washington on Wednesday to try to salvage the three-nation NAFTA, although Trump has said he could proceed with Mexico alone.
Analysts also are monitoring the state of trade relations between Washington and Beijing, with the possibility of a new wave of punitive tariffs hitting as soon as this week.
In Tokyo, China-linked shares were among losers, with construction machine maker Komatsu dropping 3.20 percent to 3,048 yen and industrial robots maker Fanuc down 0.98 percent at 21,185 yen.
Game giant Nintendo was off 0.45 percent at 39,570 yen and chip-making devices maker Tokyo Electron was down 0.40 percent at 18,440 yen.
© Agence France-Presse
