Japanese equities concluded their trading session on a subdued note, with the Nikkei 225 closing 0.80% lower, primarily driven by setbacks in the Power, Retail, and Communication sectors.
The Nikkei 225 index fell by 0.80% when the markets closed in Tokyo on Monday, reflecting a day of persistent challenges across various segments.
Among the notable gainers on the Nikkei 225 were Shiseido Co., Ltd. (TYO:4911), exhibiting a robust performance as it surged by 3.29%, or 155.00 points, reaching a closing price of 4,866.00. Meanwhile, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. (TYO:4568) displayed notable resilience by registering an increase of 2.93%, or 120.00 points, ultimately concluding the session at 4,215.00. Astellas Pharma Inc. (TYO:4503) also made significant headway with an upward shift of 2.74%, or 51.50 points, securing a closing price of 1,933.50 in the late trading hours.
On the flip side, the session saw Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) experiencing a substantial dip of 4.83%, or 62.00 points, ultimately settling at 1,221.00. Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. (TYO:5202) was not far behind, declining by 3.94%, or 27.00 points, closing the session at 658.00. Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TYO:6703) also endured a 3.07% drop, shedding 29.00 points to end at 916.00.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange bore witness to a larger number of declining stocks than advancing ones, with a stark contrast of 3006 to 694. Additionally, 167 equities concluded the session without any notable change.
Of noteworthy concern, Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) reached a significant milestone by plummeting to a 5-year low, recording a 4.83% decline and closing at 1,221.00.
The Nikkei Volatility, which gauges the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, showed an uptick of 3.25%, culminating in a new 6-month high at 23.20.
In the commodities arena, crude oil for December delivery displayed a 0.41% decrease, equaling a loss of 0.36, with the closing price standing at $87.72 per barrel. Meanwhile, in the same space, Brent oil for delivery in December witnessed a decline of 0.25%, losing 0.23, and settling at $91.93 per barrel. The December Gold Futures contract saw a marginal decline of 0.06%, or 1.15, closing at $1,993.25 per troy ounce.
Currency markets showed some movement as well, with the USD/JPY pair recording a slight uptick of 0.03% to reach 149.88, while the EUR/JPY pair showed a minor increase of 0.06% to achieve 158.88.
Concurrently, the US Dollar Index Futures displayed a modest decline of 0.04%, standing at 105.94.
The Japanese stock market’s performance underlines the prevailing market dynamics, with some notable gainers and a predominantly bearish sentiment, underscoring the ongoing economic fluctuations.
