Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 2.97%

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Tuesday, as gains in the Shipbuilding, Non-Metal Minerals and Communication sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 2.97% to hit a new 5-year high.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TYO:8035), which rose 13.33% or 3,965.00 points to trade at 33,720.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. (TYO:8766) added 11.00% or 424.00 points to end at 4,277.00 and MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings (TYO:8725) was up 10.82% or 646.00 points to 6,616.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were JGC Corp. (TYO:1963), which fell 17.45% or 301.00 points to trade at 1,423.50 at the close. Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863) declined 15.71% or 222.00 points to end at 1,191.00 and Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. (TYO:5202) was down 9.59% or 58.00 points to 547.00.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2482 to 1224 and 184 ended unchanged.

Shares in Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TYO:8035) rose to 52-week highs; rising 13.33% or 3,965.00 to 33,720.00. Shares in JGC Corp. (TYO:1963) fell to 52-week lows; losing 17.45% or 301.00 to 1,423.50. Shares in Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. (TYO:8766) rose to all time highs; rising 11.00% or 424.00 to 4,277.00. Shares in MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings (TYO:8725) rose to all time highs; rising 10.82% or 646.00 to 6,616.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 2.78% to 19.25.

Crude oil for March delivery was up 0.31% or 0.24 to $77.16 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in April rose 0.22% or 0.18 to hit $82.18 a barrel, while the April Gold Futures contract rose 0.10% or 1.95 to trade at $2,034.95 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was up 0.10% to 149.49, while EUR/JPY rose 0.06% to 160.98.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.03% at 104.07.