Japanese equities finished higher on Thursday, supported by strong gains in the real estate, banking, and textile sectors, which helped lift the broader market.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 advanced 1.76%, marking a solid session for local stocks.
Top gainers and laggards
Leading the rally was SoftBank Group Corp., which surged 11.61%, adding 450 points to close at 4,325.00. TOTO Ltd. climbed 9.72% to 5,157.00, while Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. rose 9.62% to finish at 19,705.00.
On the downside, Aeon Co., Ltd. dropped 5.53% to 2,212.50. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. slid 5.38% to 13,625.00, while Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. fell 3.48% to end at 695.50.
Market breadth was positive, with advancing stocks outnumbering decliners by 2,556 to 1,043 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, while 227 shares closed unchanged.
Both TOTO and Dainippon Screen reached new 52-week highs during the session, reflecting strong investor demand for select large-cap names.
Volatility, currencies, and commodities
The Nikkei Volatility Index, which tracks implied volatility on Nikkei 225 options, rose 4.42% to 34.29, its highest level in one month.
In commodities, crude oil prices were little changed. U.S. crude for March delivery slipped 0.03% to $60.60 a barrel, while Brent crude edged down 0.14% to $65.15. Gold futures for February eased 0.12% to $4,831.66 per ounce.
In currency markets, the Japanese yen weakened, with USD/JPY rising 0.36% to 158.85 and EUR/JPY gaining 0.39% to 185.63. U.S. Dollar Index futures were slightly higher, up 0.07% at 98.63.
