Japan stocks lower at close of trade; Nikkei 225 down 0.90%

Investing.com – Japan stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Paper&Pulp, Retail and Chemical, Petroleum&Plastic sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 declined 0.90%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501), which rose 5.83% or 61.00 points to trade at 1,104.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Kansai Electric Power Co Inc (TYO:9503) added 4.25% or 100.00 points to end at 2,453.00 and Mitsubishi Materials Corp. (TYO:5711) was up 4.12% or 128.00 points to 3,240.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO:4503), which fell 7.96% or 125.00 points to trade at 1,446.00 at the close. Takashimaya Co., Ltd. (TYO:8233) declined 6.66% or 168.00 points to end at 2,359.50 and Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd (TYO:4506) was down 3.69% or 15.00 points to 394.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2252 to 1406 and 221 ended unchanged.

Shares in Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501) rose to 5-year highs; rising 5.83% or 61.00 to 1,104.50. Shares in Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO:4503) fell to 3-years lows; losing 7.96% or 125.00 to 1,446.00. Shares in Kansai Electric Power Co Inc (TYO:9503) rose to 5-year highs; up 4.25% or 100.00 to 2,453.00. Shares in Mitsubishi Materials Corp. (TYO:5711) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 4.12% or 128.00 to 3,240.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 3.67% to 19.97.

Crude oil for May delivery was down 0.51% or 0.44 to $85.22 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in June fell 0.45% or 0.41 to hit $90.04 a barrel, while the June Gold Futures contract rose 0.03% or 0.80 to trade at $2,374.90 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was up 0.35% to 153.82, while EUR/JPY rose 0.75% to 163.99.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.14% at 105.68.