TOKYO: Japanese shares ended lower on Wednesday as the Bank of Japan's quarterly corporate survey showed business mood dropped to the worst level in 11 years, while the continued spread of COVID-19 cases in Tokyo also sapped risk appetite.
The benchmark Nikkei average ended 0.75% lower at 22,121.73.
The Bank of Japan's tankan survey showed the mood among big manufacturers declined to minus 34 last month from minus 8 in March.
The BoJ survey also indicated that big firms plan to raise capital expenditure by 3.2% in the current fiscal year through March 2021, higher than initially expected.
E-mini futures for the S&P 500 were last quoted down 0.47%, further pressuring Japanese shares.
All of the 33 sector subindexes on the Tokyo exchange traded in the red. Pharmaceutical and textile stocks declined the most, falling more than 2% each.
Automobile shares weakened despite the softer yen, as the BoJ survey indicated sentiment among large automobile manufacturers declined to minus 72 from minus 17 in March.
Suzuki Motor Corp dropped 4.51%, Honda Motor Co Ltd fell 2.03% and Nissan Motor Co Ltd declined 1.63%. The broader Topix dipped 1.29% to 1,538.61, its lowest since mid-June.
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