TOKYO: Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Insurance, Trading and Machinery sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.03% to hit a new all time high.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were NKSJ Holdings, Inc. (TOKYO:8630), which rose 7.36% or 308.0 points to trade at 4493.0 at the close. Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TOKYO:9501) added 6.74% or 37.0 points to end at 586.0 and MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings (TOKYO:8725) was up 5.41% or 199.0 points to 3880.5 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:4151), which fell 3.66% or 64.0 points to trade at 1685.0 at the close. SUMCO Corp. (TOKYO:3436) declined 3.15% or 56.0 points to end at 1719.0 and Yahoo Japan Corp. (TOKYO:4689) was down 3.05% or 16.0 points to 509.0.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1102 to 781.
Shares in NKSJ Holdings, Inc. (TOKYO:8630) rose to all time highs; gaining 7.36% or 308.0 to 4493.0. Shares in Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TOKYO:9501) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 6.74% or 37.0 to 586.0. Shares in MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings (TOKYO:8725) rose to 3-years highs; rising 5.41% or 199.0 to 3880.5.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 1.08% to 18.75.
Crude oil for July delivery was up 0.25% or 0.15 to $59.13 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in July rose 0.26% or 0.17 to hit $65.20 a barrel, while the June Gold contract unchanged 0.00% or 0.00 to trade at $1208.70 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was down 0.23% to 121.06, while EUR/JPY fell 0.24% to 134.31.
The US Dollar Index was unchanged 0.00% at 95.65.
