Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Automobiles & Parts, Shipbuilding and Steel sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 0.94% to hit a new 6-months high.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Kobe Steel, Ltd. (T:5406), which rose 9.60% or 96.5 points to trade at 1102.0 at the close. Meanwhile, Unitika, Ltd. (T:3103) added 6.98% or 6.0 points to end at 92.0 and JFE Holdings, Inc. (T:5411) was up 6.08% or 100.5 points to 1754.0 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Eisai Co., Ltd. (T:4523), which fell 7.15% or 505.0 points to trade at 6562.0 at the close. Shinsei Bank, Ltd. (T:8303) declined 3.08% or 6.0 points to end at 188.5 and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (T:4519) was down 2.57% or 85.0 points to 3225.0.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1894 to 1125 and 314 ended unchanged.
Shares in Unitika, Ltd. (T:3103) rose to 5-year highs; rising 6.98% or 6.0 to 92.0.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 0.41% to 19.46.
Crude oil for January delivery was up 0.17% or 0.08 to $48.02 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in January rose 0.04% or 0.02 to hit $48.97 a barrel, while the December Gold contract fell 0.20% or 2.35 to trade at $1185.45 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was up 0.24% to 112.81, while EUR/JPY rose 0.16% to 118.89.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.15% at 101.88.