Japan’s stock market closed on a slightly negative note on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 index slipping by 0.08% as losses in key sectors dampened market sentiment.
At the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 stood at a modest decline of 0.08%.
Among the notable movers on the Nikkei 225, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (TYO:7003) emerged as one of the top performers, surging by 12.21% or 135.00 points to reach 1,241.00 at the closing bell. Aozora Bank, Ltd. (TYO:8304) also posted gains, climbing by 5.64% or 114.00 points to finish at 2,136.00, while Obayashi Corp. (TYO:1802) witnessed a rise of 5.49% or 75.00 points, closing at 1,440.50 in late trade.
On the flip side, Recruit Holdings Co Ltd (TYO:6098) faced significant losses, plummeting by 3.25% or 202.00 points to settle at 6,008.00 by the close of trading. Konica Minolta, Inc. (TYO:4902) and Advantest Corp. (TYO:6857) also registered declines, shedding 3.19% and 3.19% respectively.
Overall, rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with 2928 stocks advancing, 818 declining, and 141 remaining unchanged.
Noteworthy milestones were achieved by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (TYO:7003), reaching a 3-year high with a notable surge, and Obayashi Corp. (TYO:1802), hitting a 5-year high following its upward trajectory.
The Nikkei Volatility Index, reflecting the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, experienced a 10.32% increase, reaching 21.60.
In commodity markets, crude oil for April delivery experienced a slight downturn, with a decrease of 0.73% to $77.89 per barrel. Meanwhile, Brent oil for delivery in April fell by 0.71% to $82.88 per barrel. In contrast, the April Gold Futures contract rose by 0.44% to $2,033.05 per troy ounce.
Currency markets saw the USD/JPY pair declining by 0.13% to 150.01, while the EUR/JPY pair registered a marginal increase of 0.02% to 161.74.
The US Dollar Index Futures recorded a slight decline of 0.06%, settling at 104.12.
The Nikkei 225’s marginal downturn reflects the cautious sentiment prevailing in the market amidst sectoral fluctuations and global economic dynamics.