Japanese stocks ended Thursday’s session firmly higher, supported by gains across the real estate, banking and textile sectors.
The Nikkei 225 climbed 1.75% at the Tokyo close, reaching a new all-time high.
Ajinomoto Leads Nikkei 225 Gains
Ajinomoto was the strongest performer on the Nikkei 225, rising 8.37%, or 447 points, to close at 5,787 yen.
The advance pushed Ajinomoto shares to a new 52-week high.
Murata Manufacturing followed with an 8.10% gain. Its shares increased by 880 yen to finish at 11,745 yen, setting a new record high.
Dainippon Screen Manufacturing also performed strongly. The stock climbed 7.21%, or 1,105 yen, to close at an all-time high of 16,425 yen.
Konami Records Biggest Decline
Konami was the session’s weakest Nikkei 225 performer.
The gaming company’s shares dropped 8.70%, or 1,655 yen, to finish at 17,375 yen. The decline pushed the stock to a new 52-week low.
Fujikura fell 5.67%, losing 268 yen to close at 4,461 yen.
DeNA also moved lower, declining 5.42%, or 143.50 yen, to end the session at 2,504 yen.
Advancing Stocks Outnumber Decliners
Overall market breadth on the Tokyo Stock Exchange remained positive.
A total of 1,998 stocks advanced, while 1,525 declined. Another 240 shares ended the session unchanged.
The figures showed that gains extended beyond a small group of major Nikkei companies.
Nikkei Volatility Index Falls
The Nikkei Volatility Index declined 6.37% to 29.11.
The index measures expected volatility based on Nikkei 225 options. Its decline suggested that investor concerns about sharp market movements had eased during the session.
Oil Prices Move Lower
Crude oil prices fell during commodities trading.
U.S. crude oil for July delivery declined 2.42%, or $1.86, to $74.93 per barrel.
Brent crude for August delivery dropped 2.17%, or $1.73, to $77.82 per barrel.
August gold futures also moved lower, falling 1.26%, or $55.25, to trade at $4,326.15 per ounce.
Yen Remains Weak Against Major Currencies
The USD/JPY exchange rate slipped slightly by 0.02% to 160.63.
Meanwhile, EUR/JPY increased 0.14% to 185.04, reflecting continued weakness in the Japanese currency.
The U.S. Dollar Index Futures rose 0.17% to 100.04.
The combination of a weak yen, strong corporate gains and improved market sentiment helped lift Japanese equities to another record closing level.
