-- Japan stocks closed lower Thursday, pressured by weaker factory output data that signaled mounting economic strain from Middle East tensions.
The Nikkei 225 fell 1.06%, or 632.54 points, to close at 59,284.92.
Industrial production fell 0.5% in March from a month earlier, missing expectations for a 1.1% rise and marking a second straight decline after a 2.0% drop in February, government data showed.
Manufacturers expect output to fall 0.7% in April. The weak trend underscores the challenge for the Bank of Japan, as rising oil prices lift inflation while weighing on the import-reliant economy.
In other economic news, Retail sales rose 1.7% year on year to 14.3 trillion yen in March, rebounding from a 0.1% decline, as gains in food and beverage offset a drop in fuel sales.
On the corporate front, Yamaichi Electronics (TYO:6941) rose 4% after restoring systems at its Philippines unit following a ransomware attack, with no operational or data leak impact.
Globe-ing (TYO:277A) fell 4% after shifting its listing to the Prime Market from the Growth segment on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Toho Holdings (TYO:8129) gained 3% after saying it will seek shareholder approval to activate takeover defenses against a large-scale share purchase by 3D Investment Partners.