Japan's Stock Market Falls 1.3% as Worried Investors Buy Yen

Japan's Nikkei stock index fell 1.3%, led by electronics and real estate. Omicron fears sent investors buying the yen, seen as a safe place to park money. But a stronger yen hurts big Japanese exporters — companies selling goods overseas — whose shares dominate the index. The drop hit exactly where pandemic worry and currency shifts collide.