Key Points
- Nikkei 225 fell 0.68% due to losses in the Gas & Water, Services, and Pharmaceutical sectors.
- Top Performers are Kawasaki Heavy Industries (TYO:7012), Kuraray Co. (TYO:3405), and Shiseido Co. (TYO:4911).
- The worst Performers are Astellas Pharma (TYO:4503), Konami Corp. (TYO:9766), and Ajinomoto Co. (TYO:2802).
- The Nikkei Volatility Index rose 7.82%, signaling increased market uncertainty.
Japan’s stock market ended lower on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 declining by 251.51 or 0.68% to 36,581.76. Losses in the Gas & Water, Services, and Pharmaceutical sectors were the primary contributors to the market downturn.
Despite the overall market decline, several companies posted notable gains. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (TYO:7012) was the day’s top performer, rising 7.26% or 333.00 points to close at 4,918.00. Kuraray Co. (TYO:3405) also performed well, gaining 4.18% or 78.50 points to close at 1,955.00, marking its highest level in five years. Additionally, Shiseido Co. (TYO:4911), a leading cosmetics company, rose by 4.14% or 133.00 points to close at 3,345.00.
On the downside, Astellas Pharma (TYO:4503) led the losses, falling 4.72% or 84.50 points to 1,705.00. Konami Corp. (TYO:9766), a video game company, also struggled, dropping 3.80% or 535.00 points to end at 13,550.00. Ajinomoto Co. (TYO:2802), a food and chemical corporation, saw a 3.61% decline, losing 198.00 points to close at 5,285.00.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange saw more stocks decline than advance, reflecting broad market weakness. The Nikkei Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, increased by 7.82%, rising to 28.82. This indicates a rise in market uncertainty.
In commodities trading, crude oil prices saw a slight increase. November’s delivery of crude oil rose 0.40% or 0.27 to $68.02 a barrel, while Brent oil rose 0.31% or 0.22 to reach $71.83 a barrel. December gold futures also gained, rising 0.18% or 4.70 to $2,615.40 per troy ounce.
In currency markets, the Japanese yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar. USD/JPY fell 0.46% to 140.17, while EUR/JPY dropped 0.27% to 155.62. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index Futures decreased by 0.28%, settling at 100.51.
