Japanese equities finished lower on Tuesday, pressured by declines in the Paper & Pulp, Transport, and Communication sectors, which dragged the broader market into negative territory.
By the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 had fallen 1.03%, marking a broad-based pullback across major stocks.
Among the session’s top gainers was Aeon Co., Ltd., which surged 5.87%, adding 132.50 points to close at 2,389.50. Nichirei Corp. also posted strong gains, rising 5.50% to finish at 1,948.00, while Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. climbed 4.48%, ending the day at 11,200.00.
On the downside, Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. was the worst performer, sliding 7.44% to close at 11,570.00. Recruit Holdings Co Ltd declined 6.30% to 8,773.00, while Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd fell 5.55% to end at 2,255.50.
Market breadth was clearly negative, with declining stocks outpacing advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2,446 to 1,175, while 214 shares finished unchanged.
Shares of Furukawa Electric reached their highest level in five years, supported by the day’s gains, underscoring selective strength despite broader market weakness.
Volatility eased slightly, with the Nikkei Volatility Index, which tracks implied volatility in Nikkei 225 options, slipping 1.27% to 29.65.
In commodities, crude oil futures for March delivery edged up 0.12% to $59.50 per barrel. Brent crude rose 0.38% to $64.18, while February gold futures jumped 2.71% to trade at $4,719.99 per troy ounce.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the yen, with USD/JPY up 0.28% at 158.53. The euro also gained ground against the yen, with EUR/JPY rising 0.46% to 184.92.
Meanwhile, U.S. Dollar Index futures dipped 0.10% to 98.76, reflecting mild pressure on the greenback.
