Japanese shares dropped on Tuesday with energy-related companies taking the brunt of a collapse in oil prices while the virus pandemic sapped risk appetite ahead of corporate earnings.

The Nikkei share average fell 1.58% to 19,358.77, slipping further from Friday's near six-week high of 19,922. The broader Topix lost 0.89% to 1,419.66.

On the whole, trade was slow with investors looking to the Japanese earnings season starting later this week.

Companies with exposure to the oil market were in focus after oil prices grabbed headlines with the front-month May U.S crude futures contract turning negative overnight.

Energy plant engineering firm JGC dropped 4.1% while Chiyoda Corp fell 3.1%.

Trading houses, for which resource operations are a core part of business, were another victim.

Mitsubishi Corp lost 2.0% while Mitsui Co shed 2.2%. Itochu Corp fell 1.6%.

Cyclical shares such as semi-conductor related companies were also under pressure as investors continued to fret over the impact from the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Silicon wafer manufacturer Sumco Corp fell 3.9% while electronic parts maker TDK Corp shed 3.3%.

Lower oil prices offered limited comfort for companies that would normally benefit from them, such as airlines, given the

sheer scale of demand destruction.

Japan Airlines fell 1.3% but rival ANA Holdings managed to eke out gains of 0.3% after cutting its profit estimates for the year that ended on March 31 to 27 billion yen ($250.9 million) from the previous estimate of 94 billion yen. Its earnings announcement is scheduled on April 28.

Takara Bio rose 11.8% after a media report that it would build a mass production system for the coronavirus vaccine it is developing.

Nintendo also gained 0.6% following a media report the game company was considering increasing the production of its popular "Switch" game console, demand for which has risen after lockdowns in many countries.

Defensive shares were still in favour with food company Meiji Holdings rising 1.8% and toiletry goods maker Kao Corp gaining 1.1%. ($1 = 107.6000 yen)

Reuters