Dec 6 2024: Japanese stocks ended lower on Friday, with the Nikkei 225 dropping 0.80% due to significant losses in the transportation equipment, power, and textile sectors.
Among the top gainers, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. saw a 4.16% rise to close at ¥410.50, followed by Omron Corp., which climbed 3.72% to ¥5,015, and Rakuten Inc., which increased by 3.44% to ¥862.90.
On the downside, Japan Steel Works Ltd. led the losses with a 4.30% drop to ¥6,232, while Fujikura Ltd. declined 3.97% to ¥6,122, and Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. fell 3.96% to ¥2,931.
Market sentiment remained weak, as declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2,041 to 1,517, with 307 remaining unchanged.
The Nikkei Volatility Index rose 4.51% to 22.23, signaling increased market uncertainty.
In commodities, crude oil for January delivery slipped 0.04% to $68.27 per barrel, while Brent oil for February delivery dropped 0.12% to $72.00 per barrel. Gold futures for February delivery gained 0.48% to trade at $2,661.09 per troy ounce.
In the currency market, the yen edged higher against major counterparts. The USD/JPY pair fell 0.09% to 149.95, while EUR/JPY declined 0.28% to 158.47. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.14% to 105.85.
