Key Points
- The Nikkei 225 fell 0.19% to 37,870.26, led by losses in the Gas & Water, Fishery, and Retail sectors.
- Yaskawa Electric Corp. (TYO:6506), Fanuc Corp. (TYO:6954), and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (TYO:5713) were among the top performers.
- Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd (TYO:4151), Resona Holdings, Inc. (TYO:8308), and Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. (TYO:8766) were among the worst performers.
- Tokyo Stock Exchange outnumbered decliners, with 1,810 stocks rising against 1,777 falling and 286 ending the day unchanged.
Japan’s stock market finished lower on Wednesday as shares in the Gas & Water, Fishery, and Retail sectors saw notable losses. At the close of trading in Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped by 70.33 or 0.19% to 37,870.26, continuing a trend of market fluctuations driven by economic concerns.
Yaskawa Electric Corp. (TYO:6506) was the session’s best performer, rising by an impressive 5.59% or 253.00 points to close at 4,782.00. Similarly, Fanuc Corp. (TYO:6954) also made strong gains, adding 4.53% or 179.00 points to finish at 4,130.00. Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (TYO:5713) advanced 4.50% or 179.00 points to 4,155.00 by late trade, supported by rising commodity prices and favorable global demand for raw materials.
Conversely, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd (TYO:4151) was the worst performer of the session, plunging 13.11% or 406.50 points to close at 2,693.50. Resona Holdings, Inc. (TYO:8308) also experienced a notable drop, declining 5.11% or 51.20 points to 951.30. Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. (TYO:8766) was another major loser, falling 4.04% or 220.00 points to 5,225.00, as insurance stocks struggled with market volatility.
Despite the overall losses, the number of advancing stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange outnumbered decliners, with 1,810 stocks rising against 1,777 falling and 286 ending the day unchanged. The Nikkei Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, dropped by 5.20% to 25.73.
In commodities, crude oil for November delivery was down 0.32% or 0.23 to $71.33 per barrel, reflecting softening energy prices. Similarly, Brent oil for December delivery fell 0.23% or 0.17 to $74.30 per barrel. However, gold futures for December saw a modest increase of 0.17% or 4.45 to $2,681.45 per troy ounce, as demand for safe-haven assets remained steady amid market volatility.
The USD/JPY rose 0.19% to 143.49 in currency markets, while the EUR/JPY climbed 0.31% to 160.61. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures fell slightly, down 0.15% to 100.01, reflecting mild weakness in the U.S. dollar.
