Sony said annual net profit jumped to 1.17 trillion yen ($10.7 billion) -- more than doubling from the previous year on sales of 8.99 trillion yen, also a record high.
U.S. energy firms cut the number of oil rigs operating for the first time since March, as rigs fell by one to 438 this week, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes Co.
Tokyo and several other areas are expected to follow suit, hoping to avoid the crisis facing Osaka's healthcare system, where beds for Covid-19 patients in severe condition have run out.
The top percentage losers on the Nikkei index were Marui Group Co Ltd, down 5.82%, followed by Dentsu Group Inc , losing 4.46%, and Daikin Industries Ltd, down by 4.28%.
And the pandemic is showing no sign of slowing down: the 829,596 new infections reported worldwide on Friday is the highest number yet, according to AFP's tally.