Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 2.08%

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Paper&Pulp, Power and Rubber sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 2.08% to hit a new all time high.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Concordia Financial Group Ltd (TYO:7186), which rose 6.99% or 52.00 points to trade at 796.30 at the close. Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501) added 6.17% or 49.90 points to end at 858.10 and Chiba Bank Ltd (TYO:8331) was up 5.67% or 69.50 points to 1,295.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Sapporo Holdings Ltd. (TYO:2501), which fell 3.76% or 239.00 points to trade at 6,122.00 at the close. DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO:5714) declined 3.47% or 192.00 points to end at 5,343.00 and Nippon Yusen K.K (TYO:9101) was down 2.76% or 120.00 points to 4,231.00.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2612 to 1065 and 213 ended unchanged.

Shares in Concordia Financial Group Ltd (TYO:7186) rose to all time highs; up 6.99% or 52.00 to 796.30. Shares in Chiba Bank Ltd (TYO:8331) rose to 5-year highs; up 5.67% or 69.50 to 1,295.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 3.61% to 19.50.

Crude oil for May delivery was up 0.55% or 0.45 to $81.72 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in May rose 0.58% or 0.50 to hit $86.45 a barrel, while the April Gold Futures contract rose 2.22% or 47.90 to trade at $2,208.90 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was down 0.17% to 150.99, while EUR/JPY fell 0.04% to 165.13.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.11% at 102.93.