Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 1.41%

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Manufacturing, Mining and Precision Instruments sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 1.41% to hit a new 1-month high.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Credit Saison Co., Ltd. (TYO:8253), which rose 11.75% or 337.00 points to trade at 3,206.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Recruit Holdings Co Ltd (TYO:6098) added 9.11% or 644.00 points to end at 7,710.00 and Japan Steel Works Ltd (TYO:5631) was up 6.55% or 256.00 points to 4,164.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. (TYO:2002), which fell 8.54% or 174.50 points to trade at 1,868.50 at the close. Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863) declined 8.34% or 92.00 points to end at 1,011.00 and Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (TYO:4005) was down 6.27% or 21.10 points to 315.60.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2456 to 1218 and 206 ended unchanged.

Shares in Recruit Holdings Co Ltd (TYO:6098) rose to 52-week highs; rising 9.11% or 644.00 to 7,710.00. Shares in Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863) fell to 52-week lows; losing 8.34% or 92.00 to 1,011.00. Shares in Japan Steel Works Ltd (TYO:5631) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 6.55% or 256.00 to 4,164.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 8.30% to 18.23 a new 3-months low.

Crude oil for June delivery was up 0.39% or 0.31 to $78.94 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in July rose 0.35% or 0.29 to hit $83.04 a barrel, while the June Gold Futures contract fell 0.11% or 2.60 to trade at $2,392.30 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was down 0.44% to 154.19, while EUR/JPY fell 0.50% to 167.74.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.04% at 104.17.