Dec 13 2024: Japan’s stock market closed lower on Friday, with the Nikkei 225 falling 1.02%, led by losses in the Shipbuilding, Paper & Pulp, and Finance & Investment sectors.
Top Performers
- Oji Holdings Corp. (TYO:3861): The session’s best performer surged 11.23% (62.70 points) to close at 620.80.
- Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. (TYO:7832): Climbed 7.09% (237.00 points) to 3,579.00, marking a new 52-week high.
- Advantest Corp. (TYO:6857): Gained 5.81% (515.00 points), ending at 9,380.00.
Lagging Performers
- Omron Corp. (TYO:6645): Fell 5.63% (292.00 points) to 4,892.00.
- IHI Corp. (TYO:7013): Declined 5.18% (452.00 points), closing at 8,278.00.
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (TYO:7011): Dropped 4.12% (98.50 points) to finish at 2,291.50.
The breadth of the market showed a bearish trend, with 2,079 stocks declining compared to 1,473 advancing, and 315 remaining unchanged on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Volatility and Commodities
- The Nikkei Volatility Index decreased slightly by 0.71%, closing at 22.40.
- In commodities, crude oil prices edged higher:
- WTI crude for January delivery increased by 0.07% to $70.07 per barrel.
- Brent oil for February delivery gained 0.04%, trading at $73.44 per barrel.
- Gold futures for February rose 0.04%, settling at $2,710.61 per troy ounce.
Currency Market
- USD/JPY advanced 0.09% to 152.76.
- EUR/JPY inched up 0.02% to 159.80.
- The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.15%, closing at 106.80.
Despite individual stock gains like Bandai Namco’s record high, overall market sentiment remained weak, reflecting cautious trading amidst global economic and sector-specific pressures.
