Key Points
- Japan stocks closed lower, with the Nikkei 225 down 1.39%, led by declines in the Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, and Power sectors.
- Seiko Epson Corp. (TYO:6724), Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (TYO:2802), and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (TYO:9104) were among the top performers.
- On the downside, M3 Inc. (TYO:2413), Mercari Inc. (TYO:4385), and TOTO Ltd. (TYO:5332) were among the worst performers.
- 3,128 stocks fell compared to 518 rising, while 200 ended unchanged. The Nikkei Volatility Index increased by 3.73%.
Japan’s stock market closed lower on Tuesday as declines in the Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Rubber, and Power sectors weighed heavily on the market. The Nikkei 225 Index fell by 1.39% or 542.64 to 38,411.96, marking a significant downturn in the Tokyo stock exchange.
Despite the overall market decline, a few stocks posted gains. Seiko Epson Corp. (TYO:6724) emerged as the best performer, rising 2.08% or 58 to close at 2,849. Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (TYO:2802), a global leader in food and seasoning products, also performed well, adding 1.60% or 90 to close at 5,719. Another notable gainer was Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (TYO:9104), which increased by 1.27% or 64 to finish the session at 5,119.
On the downside, M3 Inc. (TYO:2413), an online medical platform, was the worst performer of the session, falling 4.86% or 86 to close at 1,675. Mercari Inc. (TYO:4385), a popular online marketplace, also struggled, declining 4.01% or 95 to end at 2,277. Another major loser was TOTO Ltd. (TYO:5332) fell by 3.94% or 202 to close at 4,923.
Overall, declining stocks vastly outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with 3,128 stocks falling compared to 518 rising, while 200 ended unchanged. This sharp imbalance highlighted the bearish sentiment prevailing in the market. The Nikkei Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, rose by 3.73% or 0.98 to 27.22, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.
In the commodities market, Crude oil for December delivery was down 0.29% or $0.20 to trade at $69.84 per barrel, reflecting ongoing concerns about global oil demand. Similarly, Brent oil for December delivery fell 0.26% or $0.19 to close at $74.10 per barrel. Meanwhile, December gold Futures rose 0.38% or $10.35 to trade at $2,749.25 per troy ounce as investors turned to safe-haven assets amid market volatility.
In currency trading, the USD/JPY was down 0.08% to 150.71, while the EUR/JPY rose 0.03% to 163.17. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures fell by 0.12% to 103.71, reflecting a slight weakness in the U.S. dollar against a basket of major currencies.
