Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 0.12%

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Shipbuilding, Transportation Equipment and Manufacturing sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.12%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Rakuten Inc (TYO:4755), which rose 5.16% or 24.60 points to trade at 501.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (TYO:3105) added 4.91% or 56.00 points to end at 1,197.00 and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (TYO:7201) was up 4.17% or 23.20 points to 579.10 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Oji Holdings Corp. (TYO:3861), which fell 3.94% or 22.20 points to trade at 541.40 at the close. J.Front Retailing Co., Ltd. (TYO:3086) declined 3.78% or 54.00 points to end at 1,373.50 and Japan Tobacco Inc (TYO:2914) was down 3.66% or 118.00 points to 3,104.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1790 to 1779 and 262 ended unchanged.

Shares in Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (TYO:3105) rose to 3-years highs; rising 4.91% or 56.00 to 1,197.00. Shares in Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (TYO:7201) rose to 52-week highs; rising 4.17% or 23.20 to 579.10.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 0.95% to 20.19.

Crude oil for August delivery was down 0.37% or 0.26 to $69.30 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in September fell 0.39% or 0.29 to hit $73.95 a barrel, while the August Gold Futures contract fell 0.46% or 8.90 to trade at $1,913.30 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was up 0.06% to 144.54, while EUR/JPY rose 0.06% to 157.76.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.11% at 102.66.