Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Banking, Shipbuilding and Paper & Pulp sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 1.10% to hit a new 6-months high.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Aozora Bank, Ltd. (T:8304), which rose 8.86% or 31.5 points to trade at 387.0 at the close. Meanwhile, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (T:8411) added 6.25% or 11.7 points to end at 199.0 and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings (T:8309) was up 6.23% or 245.0 points to 4178.5 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. (T:8830), which fell 2.39% or 72.0 points to trade at 2946.0 at the close. Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (T:8802) declined 1.74% or 38.5 points to end at 2168.0 and Mitsubishi Corp. (T:8058) was down 1.71% or 42.5 points to 2443.0.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2371 to 639 and 300 ended unchanged.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 1.91% to 20.58.
Crude oil for December delivery was up 0.59% or 0.27 to $46.08 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in January rose 0.72% or 0.34 to hit $47.29 a barrel, while the December Gold contract rose 0.43% or 5.25 to trade at $1229.75 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was down 0.04% to 109.15, while EUR/JPY rose 0.21% to 117.35.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.22% at 99.98.