Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 0.01%

© Reuters. Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 0.01%

AiVIF.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Machinery, Glass and Mining sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 0.01%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Mizuho Financial Group Inc (TYO:8411), which rose 5.41% or 103.00 points to trade at 2,007.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (TYO:8306) added 5.02% or 45.60 points to end at 953.60 and Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) was up 4.99% or 95.00 points to 2,000.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Shiseido Co., Ltd. (TYO:4911), which fell 2.72% or 178.00 points to trade at 6,370.00 at the close. Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. (TYO:8804) declined 2.72% or 43.00 points to end at 1,535.00 and Eisai Co., Ltd. (TYO:4523) was down 2.61% or 217.00 points to 8,112.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2077 to 1437 and 284 ended unchanged.

Shares in Mizuho Financial Group Inc (TYO:8411) rose to 3-years highs; rising 5.41% or 103.00 to 2,007.50. Shares in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (TYO:8306) rose to 5-year highs; up 5.02% or 45.60 to 953.60. Shares in Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. (TYO:8804) fell to 52-week lows; down 2.72% or 43.00 to 1,535.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 0.38% to 18.28.

Crude oil for February delivery was down 0.14% or 0.11 to $77.30 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in March fell 0.12% or 0.10 to hit $82.57 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract rose 0.27% or 5.05 to trade at $1,883.95 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was down 0.54% to 131.75, while EUR/JPY fell 0.48% to 141.79.

The US Dollar Index Futures was unchanged 0.00% at 102.93.