Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Steel, Transportation Equipment and Gas & Water sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.31% to hit a new 52-week high.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. (T:5706), which rose 7.74% or 29.0 points to trade at 403.5 at the close. Meanwhile, Yokogawa Electric Corp. (T:6841) added 6.87% or 124.0 points to end at 1928.0 and Kuraray Co., Ltd. (T:3405) was up 6.08% or 112.0 points to 1954.0 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Shinsei Bank, Ltd. (T:8303), which fell 8.51% or 18.0 points to trade at 193.5 at the close. Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. (T:3099) declined 8.46% or 98.0 points to end at 1060.0 and Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd. (T:5232) was down 7.47% or 38.0 points to 471.0.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1526 to 1500 and 344 ended unchanged.
Shares in Yokogawa Electric Corp. (T:6841) rose to 5-year highs; up 6.87% or 124.0 to 1928.0. Shares in Kuraray Co., Ltd. (T:3405) rose to all time highs; rising 6.08% or 112.0 to 1954.0.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 2.90% to 14.38 a new 52-week low.
Crude oil for June delivery was up 1.23% or 0.58 to $47.91 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in July rose 1.08% or 0.54 to hit $50.76 a barrel, while the June Gold Futures contract rose 0.24% or 2.93 to trade at $1221.83 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was down 0.07% to 114.21, while EUR/JPY rose 0.05% to 124.27.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.05% at 99.45.