Japanese shares slid, snapping a five-day winning streak, as a stronger yen weighed on exporters and fresh comments from Donald Trump clouded expectations for progress in US-Japan tariff negotiations.

Topix Index fell 0.8% to 2,830.16 as of 10:37 a.m. Tokyo time

Nikkei declined 1.1% to 40,035.03

Out of 1,681 stocks in the Topix, 433 rose and 1,191 fell, while 57 were unchanged.

The yen rose as much as 0.4% against the dollar Tuesday morning, holding its gains after better-than-forecast business sentiment data. That pressured large-cap exporters and dragged down the Nikkei. Toyota, Sony, Nintendo and Tokyo Electron were among the biggest contributors to losses on the Topix.

"The Tankan exceeded expectations, boosting the yen and suppressing stock prices," said Kazuhiro Sasaki, head of research at Phillip Securities Japan. "Bets on rate cuts in the US are also weakening the dollar, and there's a high possibility of further yen gains, which would be bad news for stocks." 

"Tariffs are also a worry, but I think the exchange rate is the main factor weighing on the Nikkei today," he added. 

After hopes of a US trade deal had fueled a five-day stock rally, Donald Trump's latest threat to impose a fresh tariff level on Japan on Tuesday morning broke the optimistic mood. 

Japanese stocks are likely to be "wobbly" after Trump's comments, which are "reminiscent of the blowup with Canada last week," wrote Andrew Jackson, head of Japan equity strategy at Ortus Advisors, in a note. 

Most investors are focused on Washington's planned 25% levy on car imports, which Japan is trying to lower via ongoing trade talks. Japan's auto stocks will likely remain "under pressure" until a deal is reached, said Jackson. Suzuki Motor was among the Nikkei's worst performers Tuesday, losing as much as 2.9%.

Rice cooker maker Zojirushi is an outlier, surging as much as 22%, the most in ten years, after announcing a share buyback and better-than-expected quarterly earnings. 

Source : Bloomberg