Japanese stocks ended Monday’s session lower, with losses in the paper and pulp, transport, and communication sectors weighing on the wider market.
At the closing bell in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 had fallen 1.76% to 67,350.00.
Ryohin Keikaku Leads Nikkei 225 Gainers
Ryohin Keikaku was the strongest performer on the Nikkei 225. Its shares jumped 16.84%, or 610 points, to close at 4,233.00.
The rally pushed Ryohin Keikaku shares to a new all-time high.
Shift Inc also recorded a positive session. The stock gained 3.96%, or 26.80 points, to finish at 703.30.
Meanwhile, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings rose 3.72%, adding 143 points to close at 3,984.00.
Taiyo Yuden Shares Fall More Than 19%
Taiyo Yuden was the session’s weakest performer. Its shares plunged 19.21%, or 2,830 points, to end trading at 11,900.00.
Yaskawa Electric also suffered a sharp decline. The stock dropped 14.34%, or 1,000 points, to finish at 5,972.00.
Kioxia Holdings followed closely behind, falling 12.86%. Its shares lost 9,900 points and closed at 67,100.00.
Declining Stocks Outnumber Market Gainers
Overall market sentiment remained negative on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
A total of 2,115 stocks closed lower, while 1,386 companies recorded gains. Another 254 stocks ended the session unchanged.
The figures showed that selling pressure extended well beyond the Nikkei 225’s largest decliners.
Nikkei Volatility Index Moves Lower
Despite the decline in Japanese stocks, the Nikkei Volatility Index fell 12.98% to 38.13.
The index measures expected volatility based on Nikkei 225 options. A lower reading generally suggests that traders expect less extreme price movement in the near term.
Crude Oil and Brent Prices Rise
Oil prices moved sharply higher during the commodities session.
Crude oil futures for August delivery climbed 3.72%, or $2.66, to trade at $74.07 per barrel.
Brent crude for September delivery gained 3.74%, or $2.84, reaching $78.85 per barrel.
In contrast, August gold futures fell 1.27%, or $52.40, to trade at $4,061.30 per troy ounce.
Japanese Yen Weakens Against Major Currencies
The U.S. dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen. The USD/JPY pair rose 0.33% to 162.24.
The euro also advanced against the yen, with EUR/JPY gaining 0.26% to reach 185.03.
Meanwhile, U.S. Dollar Index futures increased 0.13% to 100.88.
Japan Stock Market Ends Under Pressure
The Nikkei 225’s 1.76% decline reflected broad weakness across the Japanese stock market.
Heavy losses in technology and industrial companies outweighed strong gains from Ryohin Keikaku and several retail-focused stocks. Investors will now watch currency movements, commodity prices, and global market sentiment for the next direction in Japanese equities.
