Japan stocks lower at close of trade; Nikkei 225 down 0.68%

Investing.com – Japan stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Mining, Shipbuilding and Gas&Water sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 lost 0.68% to hit a new 1-month low.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (TYO:8316), which rose 4.12% or 205.00 points to trade at 5,179.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (TYO:8306) added 3.92% or 32.10 points to end at 850.50 and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings (TYO:8309) was up 3.24% or 144.00 points to 4,583.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Hino Motors, Ltd. (TYO:7205), which fell 5.00% or 27.00 points to trade at 513.00 at the close. Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. (TYO:8804) declined 4.71% or 82.00 points to end at 1,660.00 and Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803) was down 4.61% or 49.00 points to 1,014.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2488 to 1107 and 241 ended unchanged.

Shares in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (TYO:8316) rose to 3-years highs; up 4.12% or 205.00 to 5,179.00. Shares in Hino Motors, Ltd. (TYO:7205) fell to 52-week lows; down 5.00% or 27.00 to 513.00. Shares in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (TYO:8306) rose to 3-years highs; rising 3.92% or 32.10 to 850.50. Shares in Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings (TYO:8309) rose to 3-years highs; gaining 3.24% or 144.00 to 4,583.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 6.25% to 18.87.

Crude oil for February delivery was down 0.26% or 0.20 to $76.03 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in February fell 0.21% or 0.17 to hit $79.82 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract fell 0.01% or 0.15 to trade at $1,825.25 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was up 0.25% to 132.02, while EUR/JPY rose 0.32% to 140.33.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.04% at 103.64.