Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Gas & Water, Communication and Rubber sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 0.02% to hit a new 6-months high.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Pioneer Corp. (T:6773), which rose 4.07% or 10.0 points to trade at 256.0 at the close. Meanwhile, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (T:9532) added 3.16% or 14.1 points to end at 459.9 and Toshiba Corp. (T:6502) was up 2.97% or 13.5 points to 468.1 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. (T:4568), which fell 3.92% or 98.0 points to trade at 2402.0 at the close. Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (T:5713) declined 2.98% or 48.5 points to end at 1579.0 and Kikkoman Corp. (T:2801) was down 2.77% or 105.0 points to 3680.0.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1717 to 1249 and 373 ended unchanged.
Shares in Toshiba Corp. (T:6502) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 2.97% or 13.5 to 468.1.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 0.43% to 18.55.
Crude oil for January delivery was down 1.04% or 0.55 to $52.43 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in February fell 0.88% or 0.49 to hit $55.23 a barrel, while the February Gold contract rose 0.44% or 5.05 to trade at $1164.05 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was down 0.06% to 115.12, while EUR/JPY rose 0.16% to 122.57.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.14% at 100.94.