Japan Stocks Close Higher as Real Estate, Banking, and Textile Sectors Lead Gains
Japan’s stock market ended higher on Thursday, lifted by strong performances in the Real Estate, Banking, and Textile sectors.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index advanced 1.19%, extending its weekly gains as investors reacted positively to sector-driven momentum and stronger corporate results.
Top Performers: Konica Minolta, Fujikura, and Ebara
Among the standout gainers on the Nikkei 225, Konica Minolta, Inc. (TYO:4902) surged 15.45% or 82.00 points to close at ¥612.70.
Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803) jumped 9.74% or ¥1,910.00 to end at ¥21,525.00, reaching an all-time high.
Ebara Corp. (TYO:6361) also climbed 7.85% or ¥320.00 to finish at ¥4,399.00, marking a three-year high for the industrial firm.
Weakest Performers: Bandai Namco, GS Yuasa, and Nippon Paper
The session’s weakest performers included Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. (TYO:7832), which dropped 7.37% or ¥356.00 to ¥4,472.00.
GS Yuasa Corp. (TYO:6674) declined 6.53% or ¥281.00 to ¥4,025.00, while Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863) slipped 6.33% or ¥72.00 to ¥1,065.00.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, 2,224 stocks advanced, 1,350 declined, and 246 remained unchanged, showing broad-based market strength.
Volatility and Commodity Market Overview
The Nikkei Volatility Index, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, rose 12.09% to 36.61, marking a six-month high, suggesting rising hedging activity among investors.
In commodities trading, crude oil for December delivery gained 0.64% to $59.98 per barrel, while Brent oil for January delivery rose 0.55% to $63.87 per barrel.
Meanwhile, December gold futures increased 0.35% to $4,006.81 per troy ounce, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid global market uncertainty.
Currency Market Moves
In foreign exchange markets, the USD/JPY pair slipped 0.11% to 153.96, while the EUR/JPY rose 0.03% to 177.18.
The U.S. Dollar Index Futures edged 0.15% lower to 99.91, reflecting mild weakness in the greenback as risk sentiment improved.
