Dragged down by demand worries, Tokyo Rubber performed weakly

The IMF said on Wednesday that the damage to economic activity caused by the coronavirus pandemic was wider and worse than initially expected, prompting the institution to further cut its forecast
for global economic output in 2020.
Global economic output is now expected to contract by 4.
9 percent in 2020, compared with a 3.
0 percent
contraction forecast in April, the IMF said.

The TOCOM benchmark December rubber contract fell 0.
1 yen to 157.
4 yen a kilogram
.
The 6-month rubber contract expires
on Wednesday.

China's financial markets were closed on Thursday and Friday during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday
.

The increase in confirmed cases of new coronavirus pneumonia in the United States is the second highest since the outbreak began
.
Rising infections in Latin America and India are also unnerved for investors
.

A surge in infections in Tokyo on Wednesday also hit sentiment
.
The 55 new cases were the highest recorded
since 5 May.

Japanese stocks closed at more than a one-week low on Thursday, following losses in U.
S.
stocks as rising coronavirus cases in the United States and many other countries dented hopes
for a swift global economic recovery.

The Nikkei fell 1.
2% to 22,259.
79, its lowest close since June 15
.
Brent crude fell to $
40 a barrel after falling more than 5 percent on Wednesday.
But a weaker yen provided some support
.
The dollar traded at 107.
18 yen against the Japanese yen, compared with 106.
55 yen at the end of the previous
day's Asian session.