Japan stocks track Wall Street higher, but virus worries weigh

* Tracking the coronavirus: https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7
* Healthcare sector shines on virus drug development
* Stocks still have downside risks due to coronavirus

By Stanley White
TOKYO, March 5 (Reuters) - Japanese shares rose on Thursday,
tracking Wall Street as Democratic presidential candidate Joe
Biden's strong showing in primaries and positive U.S. economic
data bolstered investor sentiment amid increasing cases of the
coronavirus.
The Nikkei index .N225 climbed 1.14% to 21,339.71 by 0142
GMT, with healthcare and industrial stocks leading the advance.
Biden is now leading the race for the Democratic Party's
presidential nomination, and his economic policies are
considered more benign than his main rivals. Investor sentiment also improved after U.S. data on
Wednesday showed strong private sector hiring and robust growth
in the services sector. However, many investors warned that the recent equity
sell-off due to the global spread of the coronavirus could
quickly return because the flu-like illness has not yet been
contained.
The virus emerged in China late last year but has since
spread to dozens of countries and caused more than 3,000 deaths.
Infections in Japan have topped 200, with six deaths. That
excludes more than 700 cases and five more deaths from the
quarantined cruise liner.
There were 166 advancers on the Nikkei index against 51
decliners on Thursday.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd 4502.T rose 3.67% after the
company said it was developing a drug for the virus. This helped
other healthcare stocks gain as well. The largest percentage gainers in the index were food and
drug maker Meiji Holdings Co Ltd 2269.T , up 4.39%, followed by
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd 6305.T , gaining 4.16%,
and drug maker Kyowa Kirin Co Ltd 4151.T , up by 3.91%.
The largest percentage losers in the index were materials
producer Teijin Ltd 3401.T , down 1.55%, followed by Nissan
Motor Co Ltd 7201.T , losing 1.43%, and Suzuki Motor Corp
7269.T , down by 1.24%.
Some traders now await the U.S. non-farm payrolls data due
on Friday to check the health of the world's largest economy.
The broader Topix index .TOPX rose 0.95% to 1,516.69.
The volume of shares traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's
main board .TOPX was 0.44 billion, compared to the average
1.36 billion in the past 30 days.

(Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)