Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Mining, Insurance and Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.25% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (T:5541), which rose 12.06% or 465.00 points to trade at 4,320.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (T:3105) added 6.45% or 68.00 points to end at 1,122.00 and Japan Steel Works Ltd (T:5631) was up 3.72% or 135.00 points to 3,760.00 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (T:9107), which fell 9.61% or 810.00 points to trade at 7,620.00 at the close. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (T:9104) declined 7.75% or 860.00 points to end at 10,240.00 and Nippon Yusen K.K (T:9101) was down 7.28% or 860.00 points to 10,950.00.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1950 to 1586 and 262 ended unchanged.
Shares in Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (T:5541) rose to 5-year highs; up 12.06% or 465.00 to 4,320.00. Shares in Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (T:3105) rose to 3-years highs; up 6.45% or 68.00 to 1,122.00.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 3.52% to 24.40 a new 1-month low.
Crude oil for May delivery was down 0.40% or 0.46 to $114.47 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in May rose 0.10% or 0.12 to hit $121.72 a barrel, while the April Gold Futures contract rose 0.30% or 5.75 to trade at $1,943.05 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was up 0.46% to 121.71, while EUR/JPY rose 0.26% to 133.65.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.24% at 98.86.