Key points
- Nikkei 225 index fell 0.57% at close. Paper & Pulp, Transport, and Communication sectors experienced significant losses.
- Lasertec Corp, Nikon Corp., and Japan Steel Works were top performers.
- Fast Retailing Co., Sharp Corp., and Sumitomo Metal Mining were the worst performers.
- Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The Nikkei 225 index concluded Friday’s trading session with a decline of 0.57%, marking a downturn for Japanese stocks. This decrease was primarily attributed to substantial losses within the Paper & Pulp, Transport, and Communication sectors. While individual stock performance varied, the overall negative trend dominated the market’s activity.
Among the notable outperformers, Lasertec Corp saw a significant rise of 12.49%, Nikon Corp. increased by 6.76%, and Japan Steel Works Ltd gained 5.32%. These gains, however, were not enough to offset the negative impact of the underperforming sectors.
Conversely, several prominent companies experienced significant losses. Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. suffered a considerable 4.49% drop, while Sharp Corp. and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. fell by 4.36% and 3.94%, respectively. These declines contributed significantly to the overall negative market sentiment.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange experienced a clear imbalance in trading activity, with 1,995 stocks declining compared to 1,623 advancing, indicating a bearish market trend. The Nikkei Volatility Index, a measure of market uncertainty, also slightly decreased by 0.25%, suggesting some potential stabilization despite the negative closing.
Commodity prices showed mixed results, with crude oil slightly down and Brent oil and gold experiencing modest gains. The USD/JPY and EUR/JPY exchange rates both saw slight decreases.
