The Japanese stock market experienced a marginal decline in the Nikkei 225 index on Thursday, with losses primarily driven by sectors such as Transportation Equipment, Marine Transport, and Textiles.
At the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 edged down by 0.04%.
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (TYO:7003) emerged as the top performer during the session, witnessing a gain of 4.49% or 32.00 points, concluding at 744.00. Additionally, Advantest Corp. (TYO:6857) saw a rise of 3.66% or 189.00 points, finishing at 5,351.00, while Konami Corp. (TYO:9766) closed late trade with a 3.40% increase, equivalent to 291.00 points, reaching 8,844.00.
Conversely, Resonac Holdings Corp (TYO:4004) faced the most significant decline, falling by 3.21% or 97.00 points to 2,926.00 at the session’s close. Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (TYO:4005) dropped 3.14%, or 11.00 points, concluding at 339.00, and Shiseido Co., Ltd. (TYO:4911) experienced a 2.87% decrease, shedding 117.00 points to reach 3,956.00.
Market dynamics revealed that rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with 1887 stocks gaining, 1723 stocks declining, and 279 remaining unchanged.
Konami Corp. (TYO:9766) shares reached a 52-week high, recording a 3.40% increase or 291.00 points, closing at 8,844.00.
The Nikkei Volatility, an indicator of the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, experienced a 5.65% decrease, settling at 21.20.
In commodities trading, crude oil for March delivery increased by 0.77% or 0.56 to $73.04 a barrel. Meanwhile, Brent oil for March delivery rose by 0.55% or 0.43, reaching $78.31 a barrel. The February Gold Futures contract exhibited a 0.36% increase, gaining 7.25 points to trade at $2,013.75 per troy ounce.
Currency markets saw USD/JPY down by 0.22% at 147.82, and EUR/JPY experienced a marginal 0.01% decline, settling at 161.22.
The US Dollar Index Futures witnessed a 0.25% decrease, closing at 102.95.