Japanese stocks finished lower on Tuesday, with declines in the Paper & Pulp, Transport, and Communication sectors weighing on overall market performance.
By the close of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 had fallen 0.36%, reflecting broad-based weakness across multiple sectors.
Top gainers and laggards
Among the session’s strongest performers was Fujitsu Ltd., which climbed 2.27% to close at 4,329, marking a new three-year high. Nidec Corp added 2.21% to finish at 2,132, while Dainippon Screen Mfg. rose 1.63% to 15,240, reaching a fresh 52-week high.
On the downside, Sumitomo Metal Mining led losses, dropping 4.76% to 6,357. Rakuten Inc. fell 2.71% to 1,004, while Japan Steel Works declined 2.36% to close at 7,679.
Market breadth was negative on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where 2,301 stocks declined, 1,304 advanced, and 238 ended unchanged, highlighting a broadly cautious trading session.
Volatility and broader market moves
Market volatility increased, with the Nikkei Volatility Index rising 8.73% to 23.67, signaling heightened uncertainty among investors.
In commodities, crude oil prices edged lower. U.S. crude for February delivery slipped 0.19% to $57.97 a barrel, while Brent crude for March delivery fell 0.21% to $61.36. Gold prices moved higher, with February gold futures rising 0.8% to $4,378.40 an ounce.
In currency markets, the yen strengthened slightly against major peers. The dollar slipped to 156.02 yen, while the euro eased to 183.75 yen. Meanwhile, U.S. Dollar Index futures edged down 0.05% to 97.69.
