Japan’s stock market saw an uptick on Monday, with notable gains in sectors such as Precision Instruments, Pharmaceuticals, and Transportation Equipment driving the broader market upwards. By the end of trading in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 had increased by 0.11%.
Among the standout performers was Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., whose shares surged by 3.79%, adding 79 points to close at 2,161.00. Rakuten Inc. also saw a substantial gain, rising 3.33%, which brought its share price up by 30.70 points, ending the session at 952.10. Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. followed closely with an increase of 3.24%, reaching 1,403.00 after gaining 44 points in late trading.
On the other hand, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd had the worst performance of the day, with its stock falling 6.74% to 623.00, a loss of 45 points. IHI Corp. also experienced a sharp decline, dropping 4.48% to close at 7,969.00 after losing 374 points. Similarly, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. saw a decrease of 4.42%, with its stock price falling by 102.50 points to settle at 2,219.00.
Overall, the Tokyo Stock Exchange witnessed more declines than gains, with 1,834 stocks falling compared to 1,725 advancing, and 302 remaining unchanged by the close of trading. The Nikkei Volatility Index, which tracks the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, edged down by 0.45%, reaching 26.43.
In commodities trading, crude oil prices for December delivery increased by 0.49%, rising by 0.34 to close at $69.03 per barrel. Brent oil for December delivery also saw a slight rise, increasing by 0.37% to $73.33 per barrel. Meanwhile, the December Gold Futures contract saw a 0.45% boost, gaining 12.35 points to trade at $2,742.35 per troy ounce.
In the currency market, the USD/JPY pair edged up by 0.03%, reaching 149.56, while the EUR/JPY remained flat at 162.34. The US Dollar Index Futures also rose slightly, up by 0.08% to 103.39.
Monday’s trading session in Japan reflected mixed fortunes, with gains in certain sectors offset by significant losses in others, contributing to a modest rise in the overall Nikkei 225 index.
Fidelity Japan Trust PLC (LON:FJV) aims to be the key investment of choice for those seeking Japanese companies exposure. The Trust has a ‘growth at reasonable price’ (GARP) investment style and approach – which involves identifying companies whose growth prospects are being under-appreciated or are not fully recognised by other investors.
