Key Points
- Japanese stocks closed lower as the Nikkei 225 index declined by 0.59% due to losses in key sectors.
- Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (TYO:7211), Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (TYO:9531), and DeNA Co Ltd (TYO:2432) were among the top performers.
- M3 Inc. (TYO:2413), Kyocera Corp. (TYO:6971), and Hino Motors, Ltd. (TYO:7205) were among the worst performers.
- Advancing stocks outnumbered the decliners by 2,371 to 1,224, while 243 stocks remained unchanged. Nikkei Volatility Index dropped by 11.79%.
Japanese stocks closed lower on Thursday as the Nikkei 225 index declined by 0.59%. Key sectors, including Transportation Equipment, Rubber, and Pharmaceuticals, led the losses, creating a mixed trading environment across the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Despite the broader market downturn, several companies outperformed, notably Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (TYO:7211), which saw a significant rise of 9.29%, or 39.10 points, closing at 460.00. Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (TYO:9531) also performed well, rising by 6.71%, or 237.00 points, to end at 3,769.00. DeNA Co Ltd (TYO:2432) was up 6.64% or 117.50 points, closing at 1,886.00—a new 52-week high for the stock.
On the downside, M3 Inc. (TYO:2413) recorded the steepest decline among Nikkei 225 components, dropping 13.53% or 248.00 points to 1,585.50 by the end of trading. Kyocera Corp. (TYO:6971) fell 10.42% or 183.00 points, closing at 1,573.00, reflecting weaker performance in electronics manufacturing. Hino Motors, Ltd. (TYO:7205), a heavy truck and bus manufacturer, declined by 6.82%, losing 27.70 points to close at 378.40—a five-year low for the company, largely due to ongoing challenges in the global automotive market.
Despite the downward trend, advancing stocks outnumbered the Tokyo Stock Exchange decliners by a margin of 2,371 to 1,224, while 243 stocks remained unchanged. The overall sentiment appeared cautiously optimistic, as evidenced by the decline in the Nikkei Volatility Index, which dropped by 11.79% to 25.97.
In commodities, crude oil saw modest gains. U.S. crude oil for December delivery rose by 0.52% or 0.36, settling at $68.97 per barrel. Brent oil for January delivery increased by 0.51% or 0.37 to close at $72.53 per barrel, supported by supply considerations and demand stabilization. In contrast, gold futures for December delivery fell by 0.22% or 6.15, trading at $2,794.65 per troy ounce, reflecting weaker demand for safe-haven assets.
The Japanese yen experienced minor declines against major currencies. USD/JPY fell by 0.32% to 152.92, while EUR/JPY dropped by 0.38% to 165.91. The U.S. Dollar Index tracks the dollar against a basket of major currencies, increased by 0.15% to 104.02, reflecting mild dollar strength against the yen and euro.
