Japan’s stock market closed higher on Friday, with notable gains in the Precision Instruments, Communication, and Electrical/Machinery sectors pushing shares upward. The Nikkei 225 index rose by 2.57%, marking a new one-month high by the end of trading in Tokyo.
Among the top performers, Lasertec Corp saw an impressive rise of 8.19%, gaining 1,985.00 points to close at 26,235.00. Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. also performed well, increasing by 7.09% with a 165.00-point gain, ending at 2,491.00. Ebara Corp similarly experienced an uplift, closing the session with a 6.77% rise, adding 154.50 points to reach 2,436.50.
On the other hand, some stocks didn’t fare as well. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial dropped by 3.38%, losing 103.50 points to close at 2,954.50. SoftBank Corp experienced a similar downturn, declining by 3.24%, or 6.40 points, to finish at 191.30. Nichirei Corp also fell, dropping 2.80%, or 126.00 points, ending the session at 4,369.00.
In total, more stocks declined than advanced, with 1,953 falling stocks compared to 1,712 that rose, while 190 remained unchanged. Notably, shares in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial hit a three-year low, and SoftBank Corp reached an all-time low during the session.
The Nikkei Volatility Index, which tracks the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, rose by 5.01% to 26.01, reflecting an increase in market uncertainty.
In commodity markets, crude oil prices for November delivery saw a slight increase of 0.31%, rising by $0.21 to reach $67.88 a barrel. Brent oil for December delivery also edged up by 0.27%, gaining $0.19 to hit $71.28 a barrel. However, gold futures for December saw a small decline, dropping by 0.19%, or $5.10, to trade at $2,689.80 per troy ounce.
Japan’s stock market showed strength, with the Nikkei 225 index rising to a new high, while the volatility index indicated a slight increase in market tension.
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