Japan stocks higher at close of trade

Japan stocks higher at close of trade

Japan stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Insurance, Glass and Machinery sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 2.84%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Alps Electric Co., Ltd., which rose 7.68% or 136.0 points to trade at 1906.0 at the close. Meanwhile, IHI Corp. added 7.66% or 17.0 points to end at 239.0 and Shinsei Bank, Ltd.  was up 6.90% or 10.0 points to 155.0 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Takashimaya Co., Ltd., which fell 5.78% or 50.0 points to trade at 815.0 at the close. Unitika, Ltd. declined 3.64% or 2.0 points to end at 53.0 and Pioneer Corp.  was down 2.69% or 9.0 points to 325.0.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1656 to 189 and 70 ended unchanged.

Shares in Takashimaya Co., Ltd. fell to 3-years lows; down 5.78% or 50.0 to 815.0.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 2.96% to 25.25.

Crude oil for May delivery was down 2.04% or 0.86 to $41.31 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in June fell 1.88% or 0.84 to hit $43.85 a barrel, while the June Gold contract fell 0.79% or 9.90 to trade at $1251.00 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was up 0.25% to 108.91, while EUR/JPY rose 0.02% to 123.69.

The US Dollar Index was up 0.26% at 94.26.